The Election Commission (EC) has decided to postpone the Upazila Parishad elections in Thanchi, Rowangchhari, and Ruma upazilas of Bandarban due to ongoing joint law enforcement operations in the area.
The commission will reschedule the elections for these three upazilas at a more convenient time.
The original schedule had Rowanchari and Thanchi upazilas slated for voting on May 8, with Ruma scheduled for May 21.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal at the inter-ministerial meeting held on Tuesday at the election building.
Senior officials from four election commissions, as well as representatives from the public security department, public administration, police, BGB, RAB, and other ministries and organizations, were present at the meeting.
The inter-ministerial meeting, which lasted for three hours from 11am, focused on coordinating efforts among relevant authorities.
At the end of the meeting, EC Secretary Jahangir Alam announced that instructions were issued to ensure seamless coordination between law enforcement and administrative bodies.
Jahangir Alam further revealed that a higher number of law enforcement officers will be deployed for the upazila elections compared to previous local government elections. As the voting will be done in four phases, the forces will be deployed as per the demand of the district.
The Upazila Parishad elections will proceed in phases, with 150 and 160 upazilas expected to vote in the first and second phases respectively. Phase three, involving 112 upazilas, is scheduled for May 29, followed by the fourth phase on June 5.
On April 2, a group of armed men robbed Sonali Bank in Ruma upazila. The following day, the robbers looted Sonali and Krishi Bank of Thanchi upazila in the afternoon.
Law enforcement agencies suspect the involvement of the armed group Kuki Chin National Front (KNF) in these incidents, prompting joint operations to recover stolen items and combat terrorism in Ruma and Thanchi.
