The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Judicial and executive magistrates will remain in the field from January 16 to 24 to monitor the election code of conduct of candidates in the upcoming upazila parishad polls under the local government.

Election Commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hossain told journalists yesterday that upazila elections will be held on January 22 as per the schedule announced by the EC on November 23 and the magistrates will perform their duties in the polls.

He said the voter turnout in the UZ polls might be 91 percent as it was 87 percent in the ninth parliamentary elections. Sohul Hossain said that in the UZ polls a voter would cast three votes for three posts---chairman and vice chairmen (one male and one female). So, 20 per cent polling booths will be increased so that people could cast their votes smoothly, he said.

The election commissioner said elected MPs could not carry out election campaign in favour of any candidates in the UZ polls as it will be held in a non-partisan manner. He said necessary ballot papers for UZ polls will reach timely.

Sohul Hossain expressed the hope that the political government would not make any interference in the activities of the independent election secretariat, rather they would work for strengthening it.

He said 17 ordinances regarding elections were amended during the tenure of the present Election Commission.