|| The Election Commission (EC) has decided to hold the Union Parishad (UP) elections in five phases.Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah said that the first phase of voting will begin on January 21.Tiri made these remarks at a briefing after the UP election commission meeting at the election building in Agargaon in the capital today.The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner A. M. M. Nasir Uddin. Four other election commissioners and senior EC officials participated in the meeting. Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah said that according to the announced schedule, the first phase of the Union Parishad elections will be held on January 21, 2027, the second phase on February 4, the third phase on April 29, the fourth phase on May 13, and the fifth phase on May 27.He said that the Union Parishad elections will be completed by May 27. The term of approximately 4,300 Union Parishads has expired.According to the law, the elections for these union councils will be completed by May 27, 2027. He said, on September 13, he had talked about the UP elections in seven phases. Due to lack of time, we have reduced it to five phases.However, the district election officials will announce the election schedule. Usually, the schedule will be announced six weeks in advance or within plus or minus 42 to 45 days, said EC Sanaullah. He also said, "We have tried to keep all voting days on Thursdays."We will start elections in all districts. We will give priority to the Sadar Upazilas. He also said that priority will be given to union councils whose terms have expired according to the law.Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah said, "We tried to hold the UP elections before January 21. But all the possible events fell within these six-seven months. Two Eids, two exams, and then the World Ijtema all fell in between. That's why we had to go into a tight schedule." Responding to a question about law and order in the UP elections, he said, "We will hold a separate meeting with the law enforcement agencies. They were all present in the meeting we had earlier. We were told at that time that they would complete their training activities by November."Responding to a question about the amendment of the law, he said, "The election will be held under the law that will be in force on the day the schedule is announced."Regarding the dialogue with all registered political parties, he said that the remaining activities will continue continuously. Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah said, "We hope that we will maintain the culture of good elections that we have started. For this, all the relevant stakeholders will support us." Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah said that according to the announced schedule, the first phase of the Union Parishad elections will be held on January 21, 2027, the second phase on February 4, the third phase on April 29, the fourth phase on May 13, and the fifth phase on May 27.He said that the Union Parishad elections will be completed by May 27. The term of approximately 4,300 Union Parishads has expired.According to the law, the elections for these union councils will be completed by May 27, 2027. He said, on September 13, he had talked about the UP elections in seven phases. Due to lack of time, we have reduced it to five phases. However, the district election officials will announce the election schedule. Usually, the schedule will be announced six weeks in advance or within plus or minus 42 to 45 days, said EC Sanaullah.