Cyclone Remal: Polls in 19 upazilas postponed

The Election Commission has postponed the elections to 19 out of 109 Upazila Parishads slated for May 29 due to the landfall of cyclone Remal on Sunday.

EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said this at a press conference in the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area on Monday, reports UNB.

He said the EC and the field-level administration took preparations to conduct elections to 109 upazila parishads in the third phase of the sixth upazila parishad election on May 29 next.

But the Commission postponed the elections to 19 upazila parishads considering the severe brunt of the cyclone Remal in the election areas, said the EC Secretary, adding that the decision was taken depending on information so far gathered from the field.

The 19 Upazilas where election won’t be held on May 29 include 18 ones in the coastal districts and one in Rangamati district.

The 19 upazilas are Sarankhola, Morrelganj and Mongla upazilas in Bagerhat district; Koira, Paikgaccha and Dumuria in Khulna; Gournadi and Agailjhara in Barishal; Patuakhali Sadar, Mirzaganj and Dumki in Patuakhali; Mothbaria in Pirojpur; Tazmuddin and Lalmohon in Bhola;Rajapur and Kathalia in Jhalakati; Bamna and Patharghata in Barguna, and Baghaichhari in Rangamati.

In reply to a question, the EC Secretary said the polls to other upazila parishads might be suspended, if information on devastation is received from other upazilas.

Now, a total of 90 upazila parishads will go to polls in the third phase election on May 29.