Voting underway for Gazipur City Corporation elections
Voting in the Gazipur City Corporation elections began on Tuesday morning to elect its new mayor and councillors.
The balloting that began at 8:00am will continue till 4:00pm 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.
Meanwhile, BNP's Hasan Uddin Sarker casted his vote at Bashir Uddin Academy centre of ward no 54 at 8:24am.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s mayoral candidate for Gazipur City Corporation Hasan Uddin Sarker addresses at Bashir Uddin Academy centre of ward no 54 after casting his vote in the centre Tuesday morning. — New Age photo
The BNP-backed candidate, however, after casting his vote claimed that many of his polling agents were beaten up and driven out from different polling centres since voting began in the city, our correspondent reports.
He said he would accept the election results if polls were held in a fair manner.
Awami League’s mayoral candidate for Gazipur City Corporation Jahangir Alam addresses at Kanaiya Government Primary School after casting his vote in the centre Tuesday morning. — New Age photo
The Al-backed candidate Jahangir Alam casted his vote at Kanaiya Government Primary School centre at 9:14am. After casting vote he expressed his hope for the victory.
General holiday has been announced for the day in the city corporation area and all factories and industries in the area were remained closed on the day.
Electronic Voting Machines are being used in six centres while closed-circuit television 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. However, 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 members have been deployed in Gazipur. The platoons will remain on duty till June 27.
Earlier, the GCC 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 Gazipur City Corporation Election within June 28.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
