The Election Commission has allocated electoral symbols among the mayoral candidates in the upcoming Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls, slated for March 29.
Returning Officer Md Hasanuzzaman distributed the symbols at the Shilpakala Academy auditorium in the city on Monday morning.
Awami League candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury was given the “boat” symbol, while BNP’s Shahadat Hossain received the “sheaf of paddy.”
Among the other candidates, Islami Andolon Bangladesh’s Jannatul Islam received "hand fan," Bangladesh Islami Front's MA Matin "candle," National People's Party’s Abul Manjur "mango," and Islami Front Bangladesh’s Wahed Murad received the "chair" symbol.
In line with the electoral code of conduct, the mayoral aspirants started campaigning after they were allocated the symbols.
On February 16, Election Commission Senior Secretary Md Alamgir announced the schedule for the upcoming Chittagong city polls.
Afterwards, a total of nine aspirants had submitted nomination papers to contest the mayoral race.
On March 1, the Election Commission rejected nomination papers of independent candidates Khokon Chowdhury and Tanzir Abedin after scrutiny.
On Sunday, Jatiya Party’s mayor candidate Solaiman Alam Seth pulled out from the race.
A total of 1,951,052 people of Chittagong city will vote, using electronic voting machines, from 9am to 5pm on March 29 to elect their new mayor.
The city has 41 general wards and 14 wards reserved for women.
Awami League Chittagong city unit General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin served as the Chittagong city mayor for the past five years, after he won the last election in a landslide in April 2015.