Voting underway in Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal cities

Desk Report: Voting in the elections to the three city corporations -- Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal -- began on Monday morning.

The voting began at 8:00 am and will continue till 4:00 pm without any break.

The Election Commission (EC) has taken all-out preparations to hold the polls in the three city corporations in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Helal Uddin Ahmed, secretary of the EC secretariat, said, “The EC will do everything so that the voters can cast their votes in a free, fair and peaceful environment in three cities. The EC will not tolerate any sort of irregularity or laxity by the election officials.”

The EC secretary said the commission has taken initiatives to know the situation of voting centers instantly like in Gazipur city polls.

Helal Uddin said, “The EC will take steps instantly if any irregularity is found at voting centers or if the situation goes out of control. The presiding officers will pass information to the EC through SMS (short message service) and the EC will take decisions from the head office on the basis of SMS information.”

He said the observers of the EC will monitor all types of activities of election officials, candidates and their workers. One observer of the EC will be deployed for every three wards, he added.

They (observers) would inform the returning officers or Election Commission if they find any type of irregularity, he said.

Helal Uddin said the government has declared general holiday today in the three cities centering the polls.

The EC secretary said 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 will discharge their duties one day more after election.

Besides, four platoons BGB have been kept in reserve for any type of unstable situation, he added.

I0 executive magistrates are conducting mobile courts in the three city corporations from July 10 which will continue till August 1

On the other hand, 20 executive magistrates have been deployed in every city corporations to check the violation of electoral code of conduct and to ensure security in the polls areas two days ahead of the election.

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.

One mobile team comprising members of police, APBN and Ansar has been deployed at every general ward and one team of striking force has been deployed in every three wards. Besides, 24 law personnel have been deployed at every important voting center.

In Rajshahi City Corporation, four 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) and independent candidate Md Murad Morshed (Elephant).

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.

EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said the 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 respectively.


risingbd/Dhaka/July 23, 2018/Hasibul/Tanjimul/Swapon/Mukul