Dhaka: The ruling Awami League has announced the names of chairman candidates for the second phase of upazila parishad elections in 122 upazilas scheduled to be held on March 18.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names at a press conference at the party President Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office this noon.

Earlier on Friday, party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina finalized the manes in a joint meeting of Awami League Parliamentary Board and its Local Government Nomination board.

Following the meeting, AL announced the names of 87 chairman aspirants who want to contest the first-phase upazila elections to be held on March 10.

On February 4, Awami League started selling nomination papers to those who want to contest the upazila elections.

The Election Commission on February 3 announced that the fifth upazila parishad polls would be held in five phases.

The election to 87 upazila parishads in 12 districts under Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Rajshahi divisions will be held in the first phase on March 10.

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.