The upcoming countrywide Union Parishad polls will be held in 6-7 phases starting in March next, said Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam on Wednesday.

"The Union Parishad elections will be arranged in 6-7 phases in the breaks of HSC examinations. The schedule for the first phase election might be announced on Thursday or Sunday next," he told UNB.

The EC published gazette on the amended Union Parishad (Election Conducting) Rules 2016 and the Union Parishad Election Code of Conduct 2016 on Wednesday, he said.

As many as 4,279 Union Parishads out of the country's 4,571 are eligible for election, and the Election Commission has legal obligation to complete the polls in the eligible Union Parishads by June next.

For the first time, election to the UP chairman post is going to be held along party line as the government amended the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009.

UNB/RI