Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Sunday said the decision of some major political parties to refrain from joining the upcoming upazila election is disappointing.

The CEC came up with the remark while addressing a training of trainers programme as the chief guest at the Election Training Institute in the capital’s Agargaon area, reports the UNB.

‘A number of major political parties decided not to join in the upcoming upazila election. It’s very disappointing for us as we always wanted a competitive election,’ he said.

There is no doubt that the upazila election will be a competitive one as many qualified persons are vying for it, he said.

Issuing a warning to the officers related to the election, the CEC said strict measures will be taken against those who will be responsible for disrupting the elections.

He also urged the election officials to act neutrally while discharging their duties during the elections.

Mentioning that the poling agents are an important part of the election process, the CEC urged the election officers to ensure safety and security of the agents when they return home after performing their duties.

Elections to 87 upazila parishads in 12 districts under Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Rajshahi divisions will be held in the first phase while the second phase of the election is slated for March 18, the third for March 24, the fourth for March 31 and the fifth for June 18.