Polls to 133 local bodies Dec 28

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed December 28 for holding polls and by-polls to 133 pourasabhas, union parishads and upazila parishads.

"The Election Commission today sent directives to the returning officers concerned for announcing the election schedule," Joint Secretary of EC Secretariat Farhad Ahmad Khan told BSS.

Among the 133 local bodies, polls will be held to four pourasabhas, 34 union parishads and one upazila parishad while by-elections will be held to three pourasabhas and 91 union parishads.

Khan said the commission has approved the date centrally to hold the polls and by-elections in different posts.

Now, local returning officers would issue public notifications in this regard, he added.

Assistant Secretary of EC Secretariat Rajib Ahasan said according to the schedule, November 27 has been fixed as the last date for nomination paper filing while scrutiny will be held on November 28 and 29. Closing date for nomination paper withdrawal is December 7 while voting will be held on December 28, he added.

EC official sources said it was not possible to hold elections in over 50 areas due to flood. Besides, different legal complexities delayed the polls in some areas.