The Election Commission has appointed nearly three lakh election officials to oversee vote-casting in 146 constituencies (out of 300) on January 5.
The officials include 61 returning officials, 286 assistant returning officials, 18123 presiding officers, 90,728 assistant presiding officers and 1,81,448 polling officers, EC secretariat sources said.
The EC on Tuesday started training programmes for the presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers.
The commission’s expenses against the officials will be more than Tk 61 crore.
At least six lakh election officials are usually needed to conduct a national election. But this year three lakh officials are enough as there is no need for arrangement of election in the country’s 154 constituencies which got single candidates who are set to be elected unopposed.
Out of 9,19,65977 voters, 4,82,80307 voters are now deprived of the right to exercise their franchise in the country’s 10th parliamentary elections due to single candidates in 154 constituencies.
Just 4,36,85670 voters will be able to exercise their franchise in the 146 constituencies through 90728 booths of 18123 polling stations, where 386 candidates will run the electoral races.
Only 12 registered political parties will be contesting the January 5 election, while 28 registered parties boycott it.
The commission has no need for arrangement of election in five districts – Shariatpur, Madaripur, Chandpur, Joypurhat and Rajbari- as all the constituencies of these districts got single candidates.
Earlier the EC appointed 66 returning officers and 577 assistant returning officers and finalised a list of 37708 polling stations for the country’s 300 constituencies.
Source: UNB Connect
