Cyclone Remal: EC suspends polls in 19 upazilas

The Election Commission suspended voting in 19 upazilas in the third phase of the upazila polls yesterday due to flooding and power disruptions caused by Cyclone Remal.

Before the announcement, 109 upazilas were scheduled to go to the polls on May 29 (Wednesday).

In a press briefing in the afternoon, EC Secretary Jahangir Alam said that the commission decided to suspend polls as heavy downpours during Cyclone Remal inundated many places and left many electoral areas without electricity.

Moreover, road communication with many places has been disrupted due to the cyclone, he added.

The 19 upazilas where voting has been postponed are Sarankhola, Morrelganj, and Mongla of Bagerhat; Koyra, Paikgachha, and Dumuria of Khulna; Gournadi and Agailjhara of Barisal; Sadar, Mirzaganj, and Dumki of Patuakhali; Mathbaria of Pirojpur; Lalmohan and Tazumuddin of Bhola; Rajapur and Kathalia of Jhalakathi; Bamna and Patharghata of Barguna, and Baghaichhari of Rangamati.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission issued a show cause notice to Faridpur 4 independent lawmaker Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, also known as Nixon Chowdhury, after a candidate in the Bhanga upazila election accused Nixon of violating the electoral code of conduct.

Returning Officer Ziaul Haq Khan sent the letter yesterday and asked Nixon to explain his position by today.

The EC also asked the inspector general of police to take necessary steps to remove the officers in charge of Debidwar Police Station in Cumilla, Faridganj Police Station in Chandpur, Anwara and Chandnaish police stations in Chattogram, and Dumki Police Station in Patuakhali.