The Election Commission may announce the schedule of the third phase of upazila polls by this week.

Elections to around 74 upazilas might be held on March 15 in the third phase, said EC officials.

"We've discussed the schedule of the third phase of upazila polls. Now, the chief election commissioner and other commissioners will finalise it," said a senior assistant secretary at the EC secretariat. The announcement may come on Thursday, he added.

Out of487 upazila parishads across the country, elections to 97 will be held on February 19, while another 117 upazilas will go to polls on February 27 in the second phase.

Besides, the EC mulls holding polls to 72 upazilas on March 25; 65 on March 31; and 57 on May 3, said EC sources.

Meanwhile, the EC will sit with deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and returning officers on Thursday to draw up a plan on law and order during the upazila elections.

"Earlier, we had a meeting with top officials of law enforcement agencies. Now we'll sit with the DCs and SPs because they work at the field level. So their suggestions and opinions are very important for us," said a deputy secretary at the EC secretariat.

The commission has already sent letters to the DCs, SPs, returning officers and district and upazila election officers to attend the meeting.

The last elections to 479 upazilas were held on January 22, 2009. As per electoral laws, polls to upazila parishads should be held within 180 days before the expiry of their tenure.