Voting underway in Gazipur city polls

FT ONLINE

Voting in the Gazipur City Corporation polls began on Tuesday morning to elect its new mayor and councillors.

The balloting that began at 8:00 am will continue till 4:00 pm without any break at 425 polling stations.

Voters were seen in long queues at different polling centres waiting for their turn to cast their votes.

A general holiday has been announced in the city on the occasion of the election.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in six centres while closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in two.

Seven mayoral candidates - AL’s Jahangir Alam, BNP’s Hasan Uddin Sarker, CPB’s Kazi Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Islami Oikya Jote’s Fazlur Rahman, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s M Nasir Uddin, Bangladesh Islami Front M Jalal Uddin and independent runner Farid Ahmed - are there in the race.

Besides, some 254 general councillor and 84 reserved-seat female councillor candidates are participating in the elections.

Of those, a councillor has already been elected unopposed.

A total of 1,137,736 voters - 569,935 males and 567,801 females - are expected to exercise their franchise in the election.

A total of 67 executive magistrates and 19 judicial magistrates will also perform duties in the city corporation area from June 24 to 27.

A total of 29 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members have been deployed in Gazipur. The platoons will remain on duty till June 27. Each platoon consists of 20-30 personnel, UNN reported.

Earlier, the city polls were scheduled to be held on May 15, while the High Court stayed it.

Later, the Appellate Division reviewed the High Court order and asked the Election Commission to hold the city election within June 28.