Bangladesh Bank has asked all the scheduled commercial banks to keep open their respective branches in 83 upazilas of 42 districts on Saturday to facilitate the ongoing polls.

The banks have been asked to keep open their branches in the electoral areas with ensuring proper security for receiving treasury invoices or pay orders or bank drafts as deposit money of the upazila election candidates, said a circular issued yesterday. The Election Commission (EC) announced the third phase of the upazila parishad elections on March 15 in 83 bodies.

The deadline for the filing of nomination papers is February 15.

Aspirants must submit them to the returning officers or assistant returning officers by 5pm on the day.

The papers would be scrutinised on February 17, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 24.

Out of 487 Upazila Parishads in the country, elections to 97 Upazilas will be held on February 19 in the first phase, and 117 Upazilas on February 27 in the second phase.

News:Dhaka Tribune/14-Feb-2014