Small ethnic community polls held in Tanore, Nachole
The Upazila Small Ethnic Group Overall Development Associations were formed to establish elected representation for people of small ethnic groups in Nachole and Tanore upazilas.
The indigenous communities in Nachole upazila under Chapainawabganj district and in Tanore upazila under Rajshahi district elected 11-member executive committees of the two Small Ethnic Group Overall Development Associations there.
Jatin Hemrom was elected president and Babu Lal Toppo general secretary of the Association's Nachole upazila unit in Chapainawabganj on Saturday.
The other newly elected members of the Nachole upazila executive committee are: Vice president Laxmi Ram Mardi, vice president (reserved for women) Selina Mardi, joint general secretary Anjali, organising secretary Naren Mardi, office secretary Chaina, finance secretary Paresh Marandi, general member Maloti Mahali and reserved women member Soneka Rani.
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The voters of 30 indigenous villages in the upazila voted in 17 makeshift polling centres in Nachole upazila from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturday.
Nachole Upazila Agriculture Officer Bulbul Ahmed acted as the chief election commissioner.
The election for the Tanore Upazila executive committee was held on Friday with people from 857 indigenous families of 20 small ethnic groups under the ESDO-Mukti project in Chanduria, Saronjai and Pachondor unions.
Voting by 434 women and 378 men was held in 11 centres from 8 am to 12 noon that day. Tanore Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Shamimul Islam acted as the chief election commissioner.
Suren Murmu of the Kumra Pukur Santal Small Ethnic Group Overall Development Association in Chanduria union was elected president, while Baburam Tudu of the Ratail Santal Small Ethnic Group Development Association was elected general secretary.
The Upazila Small Ethnic Group Overall Development Associations were formed to establish elected representation for people of small ethnic groups in Nachole and Tanore upazilas.
The Associations were formed with financial assistance from Tradecraft Exchange and the European Union.
Coordinator of Tradecraft-Mukti project Shah Sufi Mohammad Motakkel Billah, ASSEDO executive director Md Rabiul Alam and ASSEDO finance manager Md Azahar Ali, among others, were present as election observers.
