Voting underway at 9 municipalities, 115 union parishads

Voters at nine municipalities and 115 union parishads (UP) are exercising their franchise to elect new public representatives. Voting began at 8am on Thursday and will end at 4pm. By-polls are being held at three of the municipalities and 78 UPs. Apart from them, voting is being held at two general wards in the zilla parishad and for electing a upazila vice chairman, Election Commission sources said. Election Commission Joint Secretary SM Asaduzzaman said they had taken all necessary measures to ensure a free and fair balloting. Tight security measures have been put in place to avert any untoward incident. Six municipalities that are going to polls are Natore’s Bonpara, Panchagarh’s Boda, Faridpur’s Afladanga, Jamalpur’s Bakshiganj, Rajshahi’s Bagha and Dinajpur’s Birol. The 37 Union Parishads are Joyari and Majhgaon in Natore district; Razarampur in Dinajpur; Ghuridah in Gaibandha; Uthli, Kedike and Manoharpur in Chuadanga; Alfadanga, Buraich and Gopalpur in Faridpur; Mulna in Shariatpur. Zinnagarh, Nilkamal and Aminabad in Bhola; Ronagopaldi in Patuakhali; Nurpur and Brahmandora in Habiganj; Fultola in Moulvibazar. Bakoi Dakkhin, Mudaffarganj Uttor, Mudaffarganj Dakkhin, Doulkhar, Raikot Uttor, Raikot Dakkhin, Adra Uttar, Adra Dakkhin, Jodda Purbo, Jodda Pachim, Bottoli, Iliotganj Dakkhin, Barpara, Doulotpur and Bakoi Uttar in Comilla; Noyainnai, Noakhali and Dharmapur in Noakhali; and Char Alexander in Laxmipur.