Long queues of voters have been seen outside polling stations since balloting for 57 wards of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) began at 8am on Thursday in a festive atmosphere.
Voting is going on through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
During a visit at various polling stations, it was found that voters had already arrived before the start of balloting in the morning.
As the day went on, voter queues started getting longer at every centre.
Besides, female voter turnout was observed to be higher than male.
Dhaka TribuneThere was a festive mood among the voters centring the election.
Elections are being held peacefully without any untoward incidents. Strict measures have been taken by the administration to prevent chaos in the elections.
Voting will continue from 8am to 4pm on Thursday.
This city election is being held for the third time in Gazipur.
It was found during a visit to Mariali Government Primary School at 26 no ward at 8am, voters were entering the polling booth one after another and casting their votes.
A long line formed outside within minutes.
Dhaka TribuneSame scenario was found after visiting several other polling stations in the morning.
The presiding officer in charge of that (women) centre, Professor Abdul Alim, said that there are 3,164 women voters in this center. They will cast their vote in nine booths.
Jamil Akhtar Limon, presiding officer, in-charge of the same centre (male), said that 2,935 voters will vote in nine booths.
Dhaka TribuneAssistant Returning Officer of Gazipur City Election HM Kamrul Islam said that 3,497 rooms have been set up in 480 centres for 1.18million voters.
A total of 5,246 EVM machines have been provided for use in these centres.
Besides, 480 troubleshooters (one in each centre), 240 technical experts (mobile) one in each two centers, 14 assistant programmers and four programmers are on duty.
Provisions have been made for speedy resolution of problems in any EVM machine. One
CCTV camera in each centre and one in each room have also been installed.
Members of different law enforcement agencies, including police, Ansar and village police, Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are on the ground across the city.
Among the 480 polling centres, 351 centres are important polling centres for the EC. To hold a peaceful election, 57 executive magistrates are deployed in 57 wards.
In addition, 30 teams of RAB, 13 platoons of BGB, 19 striking teams, and 57 mobile teams of police are deployed in the GCC area.