Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed today said the law enforcement agencies will remain alert to avoid any violence during the third phase of Union Parishad (UP) elections, scheduled to be held on April 23.

"The Election Commission (EC) discussed steps needed to be taken in case there is any violence centring the third phase of union parishad elections," the CEC told reporters after a meeting with top officials of different law enforcement agencies.

The meeting was convened to hold the third phase UP elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner, the CEC added.

The three-hour meeting began at 11:30am. The chiefs of police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh took part in the meeting held at the EC's conference room.

The meeting was held in the background of violence during the two phases of UP polls that left 33 people killed and over one thousand injured.