DHAKA, Dec 28, 2020 (BSS) – Voting is going on in 24 municipalities’ election in the first phase in the country.
The polling started at 8am through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and will continue till 4 pm.
Earlier on Saturday, the election campaign ended in these municipalities.
Joint Secretary (Director-Public Relations) of the EC Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman told BSS that all preparations for the polls have already been completed.
“The polling environment and situation in 24 municipalities is good…Executive and judicial magistrates are on the ground along with members of law enforcement agencies including BGB, RAB, Police and Ansar,” he said.
The movement of motorcycles has been banned in all municipalities from midnight on Saturday to 6 am on Tuesday, said an EC press release.
Also, trucks and pick-ups plying have been halted from midnight yesterday to tonight.
Emergency service providing vehicles and highways will be out of the purview of banning, said the release.
A total of 1,160 candidates are contesting in the first phase municipality election.
A number of 93 mayoral candidates from 5 parties including Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Jamiat Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh are taking part in the election battle.
Besides, several independent candidates are also contesting for the mayor posts.
In each municipality, 1 mayor, 3 women councilors for reserved posts and 9 general councilors will be elected.
The concerned officials have been instructed to send the results to the Election Commission Secretariat immediately after vote counting.
Meanwhile, law enforcers including BGB, RAB, police and Ansar have been patrolling the areas since last Saturday. There will be four tiers of security until tomorrow in those areas.
The municipalities where voting is ongoing are: Panchagarh, Pirganj in Thakurgaon, Fulbari in Dinajpur, Badarganj in Rangpur, Puthia and Katakhali in Rajshahi, Shahjadpur in Sirajganj, Chatmohar in Pabna, Khoksa in Kushtia, Chuadanga in Chunadanga, Chalna of Khulna, Betagi of Barguna, Kuakata of Patuakhali, Wazirpur and Bakerganj of Barisal, Mymensingh’s Gafargaon, Netrokona’s Madan, Manikganj, Dhaka’s Dhamrai, Sunaganj’s Dirai, Moulvibazar’s Baralekha, Habiganj’s Shayestaganj and Chittagong’s Sitakundo.
On November 22, the EC announced the schedule of 25 municipalities’ elections in the first phase.
But, the BNP candidate for the post of mayor of Sreepur municipality in Gazipur died in the middle of electioneering. So the EC rescheduled the election date of the municipality for January 16.
The commission is conducting municipality elections in 4 phases this time due to coronavirus epidemic. Of these, the schedule of 150 municipalities has been announced to be held in three stages.
The election to 61 municipalities in second phase will be held on January 16.
Of these, the polls to 29 municipalities will be held through EVM and 32 will be held through ballot.
In the third phase, the election to 64 municipalities will be held on January 30.
The fourth phase of voting will be held in the remaining municipalities in February.