DHAKA, Feb 28, 2019 (BSS) – Counting is underway now as voting to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral post and councilor posts in 36 wards of both north and south city corporations were held peacefully from 8am to 4pm today.
Some polling centers saw low turnout of voters in the morning due to inclement weather. But the turnout increased in the afternoon.
After casting his vote at IES High School center in Uttara area, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said there could be two factors behind the low turnout of voters.
“The first reason could be that the election is being held for a short tenure as polls will be held again after a year. Other one could be that the voters might have thought that the election would not be a participatory one due to absence of some political parties,” he added.
The CEC said the commission has taken all-out measures to hold the polls in a free, fair and neutral manner.
According the EC sources, some 382 candidates for mayor, councilor and reserved women councilor posts are participating in the election.
Five candidates are contesting for DNCC mayoral post.
Mayoral candidates are Atiqul Islam of Awami League, Shafin Ahmed of Jatiya Party’s (JaPa), Anisur Rahman Dewan National People’s Party’s (NPP), Shahin Khan of People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) and independent candidate Abdur Rahim.
The mayoral post fell vacant after the death of Anisul Huq on November 30, 2017.
Some 124 candidates are vying in the elections to 18 new wards of DNCC and 45 candidates are contesting for reserved councilor posts.
For election to 18 new wards of DSCC, some 125 candidates are vying while there are 24 candidates for reserved posts.