Dhaka: Voting in the elections to Rajshahi, Barishal and Sylhet city corporations began this morning.
The balloting in three cities started at 8:00am and will continue till 4:00pm without any break, according to the Election Commission.
The ballot papers, ballot boxes and other electoral equipment have been sent to every polling station on Sunday.
“The EC is doing everything so that the voters can cast their votes in a free, fair and peaceful environment in three cities today. The EC would not tolerate any sort of irregularity or laxity by the election officials,” Helal Uddin Ahmed, secretary of the EC secretariat told journalists.
A team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has already been deployed at every ward in the three city corporations since Saturday.
Besides, one platoon BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) has been deployed in every two wards in the polls areas and the BGB are discharging their duties one day more after the election.
Besides, four platoons BGB are be kept in reserve for any type of unstable situation.
Ahmad said a total of 10 executive magistrates conducted mobile courts in the three city corporations from June 14 to July 9.
Besides, 10 other executive magistrates are conducting mobile courts in the three city corporations from July 10 which will continue till August 1, he said.
Election Commission sources said a total of 3,18,138 voters are in Rajshahi City Corporation.
Among them, 1,56,085 are male and 1,62,053 are female.
There are a total of 2,42,666 voters in Barishal City Corporation.
Of them, 1,21,436 are male and 1,20,739 are female.
Besides, in Sylhet City Corporation, there are 3,21,732 voters. Of them, 1,7144 are male and 1,50288 are female.
The sources said three-tier security measures have been taken in the three city corporations. Mobile and striking forces of police, RAB and BGB have already been deployed.
In Rajshahi City Corporation, five candidates are contesting for the mayoral post.
They are Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Litan (Boat), BNP-backed Mosaddek Hossain (Sheaf of Paddy), Islami Andolan Bangladesh-backed Md Shafiqul Islam (Hand Fan), independent candidate Md Murad Morshed (Elephant) and Jatiya Party (Matin)-backed candidate Habibur Rahman Habib (Jackfruit).
In Barishal City Corporation, six candidates are contesting for the mayoral post.
They are AL-backed candidate Sadek Abdullha (Boat), BNP-backed Md Majibur Rahman Sarwar (Sheaf of Paddy), Islami Andolan Bangladesh-backed Obaidur Rahman (Hand Fan), Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) candidate Abul Kalam Azad (Sickle), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal candidate Manisha Chakrabarty (Ladder) and Jatiya Party candidate Md Iqbal Hossain (Plough).
In Sylhet City Corporation, seven candidates are contesting for the mayoral post. The candidates are- AL-backed Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran (Boat), BNP-backed Ariful Haque Chowdhury (Sheaf of Paddy), Islami Andolan Bangladesh-backed Dr Md Moazzem Hossain Khan (Hand Fan), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal candidate Md Abu Jafar (Ladder) and independent candidates Ahasan Mahbub Jobayer (Table Watch), Md Ahasanul Haque Taher (Deer) and Md Badruzzaman Selim (Bus).
A total of 530 councilors are contesting in the three city polls.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are being used at 10 centers in Barishal while two enters each in Rajshahi and Sylhet city polls.
Syed Amirul Islam is the returning officer at Rajshahi City Corporation while Mujibur Rahman and Md Alimuzzaman have been employed as returning officers in Barishal and Sylhet city respectably.
