Khulna District Election Office has appointed 29 returning officers (RO) to conduct elections to 68 union Parishads in the district.

District Election Officer Bibhor Kumar Biswas said necessary steps will be taken for peaceful polling in 656 centres of 68 unions.

Thirty unions in four upazilas will go to polls on March 29 while 38 unions under five upazilas on April 2.

Chairmen of nine upazila parishads put forward seven proposals to the meeting of the District Development Coordination Committee on February 25 to ensure free, fair and peaceful UP elections.

These are immediate arrest of all fugitive outlaws, recovery of hidden arms and ammunition, construction of all embankments damaged by cyclones Sidr and Aila, appointment of neutral officers to conduct free and fair elections, cancellation of nomination papers of the candidates having links with underground parties and drive by security

forces to arrest the listed criminals who are still at large.

We strongly demanded combing operation to arrest outlaws and recover hidden arms in addition to strict surveillance by intelligence agencies to ensure security of the candidates, said Phultala upazila Chairman Sardar Alauddin Mithu who survived an attempt on his life by outlaws in Khulna city last year.

Koira Upazila Parishad Chairman GM Mohsin Reza, Rupsha upazila Parishad Chairman Sheikh Ali Akbar, Terokheda Upazila Parishad Chairman Sharfuddin Biswas Bachchu, Paikgacha Upazila Parishad Chairman Md Rashiduzzaman Moroi, Digholia Upazila Parishad Chairman Mallick Mohiuddin, Dumuria Upazila Parishad Chairman Gazi Abdul Hadi, Batiaghata Upazila Parishad Chairman Md Ashraful Alam Khan, Dakope Upazila Parishad Chairman Sheikh Abdul Hossain and Phultala Upazila Parishad Chairman Sardar Alauddin Mithu were present in the meeting.