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RCC polling ends peacefully amid huge turnout
RAJSHAHI, July 30, 2018 (BSS) – Polling in the Rajshahi City Corporation
(RCC) Elections ended peacefully at 4 pm today with huge turnout and
spontaneous participation of the voters amid festive atmosphere.
Earlier, the voting started at 8 am in a festive mood and continued
peacefully till 4pm uninterruptedly with spontaneous participation of the
voters.
“I am very much happy as the city corporation election was held in a free,
fair and peaceful manner,” said ATM Rafiqul Islam, a voter at Krishnakanta
Government Primary School Centre. He said the voters’ turnout was amazing
throughout the polling time, besides presence of female voters was
remarkable.
“I have seen large number of voters standing in long queue to cast their
votes” said Ehsanul Amin Emon, a voter at Monnujan Government Primary School
center while talking to BSS there at 3.30 pm.
He said voters’ turnout was very satisfactory there as they intend to elect
their favorite candidate who will work for the city’s welfare.
This reporter also witnessed satisfactory turnout situation in some other
centers like BB Hindu Academy, PN Girls High School, Khademul Islam
Government Primary School and Tikapara Government Primary School.
“We received votes since morning and the cast votes might be over sixty
five percent”, said Miaj Uddin, Presiding Officer at Namobhadra Government
Primary School center, while talking to BSS around 2.30 pm.
Afroja Khatun, a polling officer at Pathanpara Government Primary School,
expressed her satisfaction over the peaceful balloting atmosphere and
satisfactory turnout.
“Overall situation relating to the balloting was almost satisfactory
throughout the day. There was no report of any untoward and unpleasant
incidents from any of the 138 polling centers,” said Ifte Khayer Alam,
Assistant Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) and its focal
person.
The polling was held in 1,020 booths under 138 centres in all 30 wards of
the city corporation from 8am to 4 pm without any break. Around 138 presiding
officers, 1,020 assistant presiding officers and 2,040 polling officers have
been appointed to make balloting successful.
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was used in two centres at BB Hindu
Academy. Around 1,637 male and 1,746 female voters cast votes through EVM for
the first time here.
Syed Amirul Islam, Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer for the
RCC election, told BSS that there were 3,18,138 voters including 1,62,053
female voters exercising their right of franchise to elect one mayor, 30
general councilors and 10 women councilors in reserved seats.
A total of 217 candidates remained in the election race. Of them, five for
mayor, 160 for general councilors and 52 for reserved seats for women
councilors.
AHM Khairuzzaman Liton (boat), Musaddique Hossain Bulbul (paddy sheaf),
Habibur Rahman (jackfruit), Shafiqul Islam (hand fan) and Advocate Murad
Murshed (elephant) are contesting for mayoral post. “We were hopeful for
holding the election in free, fair and peaceful manner,” he said. “Stern
action will be taken against the people who are found involved in making the
elections process questionable,” he added.
Islam said adequate security measures were taken in all centres with
deployment of RAB, police, BGB and Ansar.
BSS/AH/ARS/1754 hrs