Jhikargacha municipality polls start peacefully

The elections to Jhikargacha Municipality in the district started peacefully Sunday morning.

The voting began at 8:00 am and it will continue till 4:00 pm without any break as the polling is being held through Electronic Voting Method (EVM).

District Election Office sources said a total of six candidates are contesting the chairman posts, 66 candidates vying for the councilor posts and 18 for women councilor (reserved) posts.

A total of 25,927 voters -- 12,475 male and 13,452 female -- will cast their votes to elect their local government representatives in the municipal.

The polling is being held at 86 booths in 14 centres.

Voters are seen standing in line for casting their valuable franchise as the number of female voters is seen higher than their male counterparts.

District senior election officer Md. Humayun Kabir told BSS that the voting is being held peacefully amid enthusiasm.

No untoward incident was reported till 9.30 am.

The election officer said he visited some voting centres and saw peaceful situation everywhere as presence of voters especially female was very satisfactory.

Strict security measures were taken for ensuring free, fair and peaceful voting, he said.

Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are seen patrolling the area for maintaining peace.

Striking forces led by executive magistrates are seen on duty.