DHAKA, Feb 01, 2020 (BSS) – The elections to Dhaka north and south city
corporations began through the electronic voting machine (EVM) method for the
first time in this major local body polls.
Beginning at 8am, the voting will continue till 4pm without any break.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said a peaceful
atmosphere is prevailing for the polls. He urged the voters to go to polling
centres without any fear to exercise their franchise.
Senior Secretary of EC Secretariat Md Alamgir told BSS that the
commission has taken adequate measures to ensure security for voters,
officers and employees involved with the polls and the polling agents.
In Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), there are 30 lakh 10 thousand 273
voters. Of the voters, 15,49,567 are male and 14,60,706 are female. DNCC has
1,318 polling centres while there are 54 general and 18 reserved (women)
wards in the city corporation.
In DSCC, there are 1,150 polling centres for 24 lakh 53 thousand 194
voters. Of them, 12 lakh 93 thousand 441 are male and 11 lakh 59 thousand 753
are female. DSCC has 1,150 polling centres while it has 75 general and 25
reserved wards.
Earlier, electioneering for the Dhaka city polls ended at 12 midnight on
Thursday in line with the electoral rules.
Marking the polls, motorcycle movement has already been stopped since Jan
30 midnight and the bar will stay till 6am on February 2 while all kinds of
vehicular movement will remain stopped from midnight on Jan 31 to 6 pm Feb 1.
Around 50,000 members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed in
the two city corporations to ensure the security.
Members of police and ansar have been deployed to ensure security at
polling centres while BGB, RAB and river police will ensure security in the
election areas.
As per the directives of the EC, respective forces have deployed their
members at specific places.
A total of 129 executive magistrates and 64 judicial magistrates have
also been deployed in the two city corporations.
Fifty four executive magistrates are staying in the election field in
Dhaka north while 75 more in Dhaka south city corporation.
A total of 1013 local observers of 22 institutions are monitoring the
polls while 74 persons are working as foreign observers.
A total of 13 mayoral candidates are vying in the Dhaka north and south
city corporations while around 7500 candidates are contesting for councilor
posts in the two city corporations.