Balloting in 10 municipalities gets underway

Voting in 10 municipalities of nine districts with the participation of two major political parties-- Awami League and BNP-- in all the 10 mayoral posts started peacefully on Sunday morning amid tight security, reports the UNB.

 

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

 

The Election Commission took all necessary preparations for holding the election peacefully, Assistant Secretary at the EC Secretariat Rajib Ahsan told on Saturday.

 

The 10 municipalities are Haragachh in Rangpur, Kaliganj in Jhenidah, Jhalakati, Bhanga in Faridpur, Brahmanbaria and Nangalkot in Comilla, Kabirhat in Noakhali, Sonagazi in Feni, and Chakoria and Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar.

 

More than 35 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in 176 polling stations of the 10 municipalities.

 

As many as 42 mayoral candidates, including 10 each from Awami League and BNP are contesting for the mayoral posts in the municipalities.

 

Besides, 293 candidates are there in the election race for 93 general councilor posts, while 106 others for 31 reserved seats (exclusively for women).

 

Members of Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh remain deployed in the centers alongside police and Ansar members.

 

Earlier on December 30 last, election to 234 municipalities, out of the country’s 323, was held with the participation of 20 political parties.