CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Nov 28, 2021 (BSS) - The elections to 13 Union Parishad
(UP)'s of Shibganj upazila in the district started peacefully this morning as
a part of 3rd phase UP elections across the country.

  The voting began at 8 am and it will continue till 4 pm without any break.

  The unions are - Shahbajpur, Daipukuria, Shyampur, Binodpur, Monakasha,
Nayalabhanga, Ghorapakhia, Uzirpur, Mobarakpur, Chakkirti, Panka, Dhainagar
and Chatrajitpur.

  Elections to another union Durlavpur was suspended earlier due to area
complexity.

  Upazila election office sources said a total of 47 candidates are
contesting in chairmen, 477 in members and 198 in women reserved posts.

  A total of 3,40,660 voters -- 1,74,149 male and 1,66,511 female - will cast
their votes to elect their local government representatives in 13 unions,
they added.

  The voting is being held in 145 centres.

  Sources said the polls are being held through electronic voting machines
(EVM) in one union and ballots in 12 unions.

  Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Shibganj Md. Sakib Al Rabbi said the
elections are going on in a free and fair atmosphere as all precautionary
measures were taken.

  Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)
have been deployed led by executive magistrates and judicial magistrates, he
said.

  Five police men and 17 Ansars have been tasked with maintaining law and
order situation in each centre, he added.

  Three unions have been considered as very important and 10 unions as
important, he continued.