4,821 file nominations for 1,040 posts in 80 Barisal union parisads

Four thousand eight hundred and twenty-one candidates submitted nomination papers for 1,040 posts under 80 union parishads (UPs) till Sunday, the last date for filing nominations.
Among them, 560 want to vie for 80 chairman posts, 3245 for 720 general member and 931 for 240 reserved female member posts, according to district election office sources.
Sources said, 571 candidates including 50 for 10 chairman posts, 395 for 90 general member and 113 for 30 reserved female member posts submitted their nomination papers in 10 union parishads under Sadar upazila of the district, 539 candidates including 67 for 7 chairman posts, 389 for 63 general member and 83 for 21 reserved female member posts submitted nomination papers in seven UPs under Gournadi upazila , 757 candidates including 90 for 13 chairman posts, 511 for 117 general member and 156 for 39 reserved female member posts submitted their nominations in 13 UPs under Mehendiganj upazila, 213 candidates including 21 for 4 chairman posts, 148 for 36 general member and 44 for 12 reserved female member posts submitted their nominations in 4 UPs under Hizla upazila, 365 candidates including 51 for 6 chairman posts, 240 for 54 general member and 74 for 18 reserved female member posts filed nominations in 6 UPs under Babuganj upazila, 475 candidates including 53 for 8 chairman posts, 329 for 72 general member and 93 for 24 reserved female member posts submitted their nomination papers in 8 UPs under Banaripara upazila, 344 candidates including 32 for 5 chairman posts, 260 for 45 general member and 52 for 15 reserved female member posts submitted their nominations in 4 UPs under Agoiljhara upazila, 474 candidates including 57 for 7 chairman posts, 328 for 63 general member and 89 for 21 reserved female member posts submitted nominations in 4 UPs under Wazirpur upazila, 397 candidates including 63 for 7 chairmen post, 248 for 63 general member and 86 for 21 reserved female member posts submitted nominations in 4 UPs under Muladi upazila and 699 candidates including 79 for 13 chairman posts, 497 for 117 general member and 123 for 39 reserved female member posts submitted their nomination papers in 4 UPs under Muladi upazila of the district.
A large number educated youths submitted nomination papers this year. Many of them are linked to local unit political parties mainly ruling Awami Legue and main opposition BNP.
There are 85 union parishads in 10 upazilas of the district. The Election Commission so far announced poll date and schedule for 80 UPs and withheld five UPs due to legal issues.
Those five UPs are Dhulkhola and Gaubrabdi UP in Hizla upazila, Shikarpur-Wazirpur and Guthia UP in Wazirpur upazila and Durgapasha UP in Bakerganj upazila.
District Election Commission office sources said that 10, 88,154 voters are expected to cast their vote in the district.
The date for withdrawal of candidature is March 13, while voting will take place on 29, 31 March and April 3, 2011.
Meanwhile, Election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday warned that political interference in the coming election will not be tolerated and administration and election officials would be blamed for any irregularities during polls.
The EC was reviewing law and order situation with officials of administration, law and order agencies and election offices in Barisal division at the conference room of the deputy commissioner.
The EC vowed to check any repetition of previous irregularities and disturbances in local government election at any cost. Local government election would be non-political and non-partisan.
"So any pressure to withdraw candidature or any formal announcement of party-nomination would be considered as violation of election code of conduct and action would be taken as per law if any such allegation is filed in this regard", the EC said.
He asked the administration and law enforcing agencies to play an unbiased, legal, neutral and impartial role for a free, fair, transparent and acceptable election.