Voting in NCC polls begins

Voting in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls began on Thursday morning.

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

The Election Commission completed all necessary preparations for the polls amid apprehensions of violence with 137 of the 174 polling stations being identified as risky, said officials.

While talking to New Age, election commissioner Md Shah Newaz on Wednesday urged the voters to cast their votes without any fear in a peaceful atmosphere.

He said that the commission asked law enforcement agencies to carry out their responsibilities without any fear or favour, and warned them of stern action for any negligence.

Returning officer Nuruzzaman Talukder said that the commission had deployed 9,500 members of law enforcement agencies, including the police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, Coast Guard and Ansar to maintain law and order.

Seven mayoral candidates from different political parties are contesting the polls while candidates from Liberal Democratic Party and Bangladesh Kalyan Party have pulled out of the polls extending their supports to Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate Sakhawat Hossain Khan and Jatiya Party faction led by HM Ershad have extended its support to ruling Awami League candidate Selina Hayat Ivy.

Besides, 156 people are contesting for 27 positions of general councillors and 38 are contesting for nine positions of councillors reserved for women.

According to the Election Commission, about 4.74 lakh people – 2,39,662 males and 2,35,269 females – have enrolled to cast their vote at 174 polling stations.

The 16-day long electioneering of the polls ended midnight past Tuesday while no violence was reported.

The first election to the city corporation was held on October 30, 2011, when Selina Hayat Ivy won the race, defeating ruling AL-backed candidate Shamim Osman.

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