Staff Reporter:

The union parishad (UP) elections is set to be held in seven stages during mid-November to mid-May, launching the local government election drive in the country.

As per the draft schedule, the first phase of union parishad elections will be held in 80 upazilas on 12 November, said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah at a briefing held at the Election Commission building in Agargaon on Monday.

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed the preliminary schedule for UP elections, and further talks will be held with all the registered political parties before the plans are finalised, Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah told reporters.

According to the EC plan, the second phase of UP polls will be held on 13 December, the third phase on 30 December, the fourth phase on 17 January, the fifth phase on 4 February, the sixth phase on 22 April, and the seventh phase on 27 May, Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah added.