The campaign for the mayoral polls in Comilla city came to an end on Monday night. The polls are scheduled for June 15.
During the electioneering campaign, former Comilla City Corporation Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku, who is in the battle as an independent candidate, said AKM Bahauddin Bahar MP forced people to campaign in support of the ruling Awami League candidate.
He came up with the allegation while talking to reporters during electioneering at Nanuadighir Par in the morning, reports UNB.
Replying to a question, Sakku said MP Bahar is his main rival.
Meanwhile, AL candidate Arfanul Haque Rifat claimed that his rival Sakku is involved in purchasing votes.
He came up with the allegation while talking to reporters at his office at Rani Dighi Par in the morning.
Asking Sakku about Rifat’s complaint, he said “The intelligence team of the government can investigate the allegation raised against me. I always help people by providing money not for purchasing votes.”
Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Monday organized a mock voting ahead of the city corporation election.
The mock voting was held at 105 centers of the city with low turnout of voters.
Assistant Presiding Officer of Foyjunnessa balloting centre under No 10 ward of the city, Lutfur Rahman, said the voter turnout is poor as all the voters are female at the centre. They might be busy with their household work.
Meanwhile, Nizam Uddin Kaisar, another independent candidate, demanded resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and his subordinates, putting a question on the role of CEC about MP Bahar’s involvement in the election.
He also submitted a written plea to the returning officer seeking publication of the election results as a print copy alongside the written copy.
Nizam also claimed that Rifat is trying to create chaos in the election by engaging outsiders.
“At the eleventh hour, we are noticing presence of some outsiders in the election area and some listed murder accused are also found roaming in the daylight in the area, creating panic among voters,” said Nizam.
He also demanded immediate visible steps to improve the election atmosphere.
Law enforcers to be deployed
Meanwhile, law enforcers including Ansar, BGB and detectives will be deployed in Comilla city ahead of the polls on Tuesday, our Comilla correspondent reports.
Over 3,000 policemen will be engaged in the surveillance of 105 polling centres. In addition to that law enforcers in plainclothes will patrol the polling areas.
Returning Officer Md Shedunnabi Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune that CCTV cameras have been installed at the polling centres.
He said that in addition to law enforcers executive magistrates, judicial magistrates will also be present to ensure that the elections go smoothly.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Comilla Police Faruk Ahmed said that the Detective Branch of police is active in ensuring that outsiders are not allowed in Comilla city during the polls.
In addition to 17 check posts and 29 mobile courts led by magistrates, 12 platoons of BGB will be deployed in the 27 wards.
The Comilla City Corporation election will be held on June 15, using electronic voting machines (EVMs) at all polling stations.
Five candidates will participate in the election.
It will be the third election of the Comilla City Corporation since its formation in 2011.
The last Comilla city election was held on Mar 30, 2017. BNP leader Monirul Haque Sakku was elected mayor for the second term in the polls.
Our Comilla correspondent Masud Alam provided inputs for the report