Shawdesh Desk:

Balloting in the elections to some 834 union Parishads is underway in the fourth phase of the countrywide elections to the lowest tier of the local government.

The polling has begun at 8:00am and will continue till 4:00pm without any break.

Incidents of violence, killing, and torching of campaign offices have become widespread, centering on the ongoing UP election.

The Election Commission has completed its preparation in holding the election to 838 union parishads of 118 upazilas in 58 districts.

According to the EC statistics, Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is being used in 38 UPs while ballot papers in the remaining UPs.

A total of 3814 chairman, 30,106 general member and 9,513 reserve member candidates are contesting in the first phase of UP polls.

Forty-eight chairmen candidates have already been elected unopposed in this phase while 135 general member and 112 reserve candidates were also elected unopposed, according to EC data.

About 1, 62, 74660 voters of them 82, 51,211 men and 80, 23,449 women will cast their vote in the polls.