Hopeful mayoral candidates of Barisal City Corporation (BCC) have started campaigning, 70 days ahead of the poll.
Posters, advertisements, banners and social functions in the city were some of the ways candidates began getting their name out ot the public.
Earlier, the Election Commission announced that the election would be held on June 15.
According to the declared schedule, last date of submitting nominations papers is May 12 and nomination papers will be scrutinised on May 15 and 16. The final list of the nominees will be published on May 26 – ending the deadline of nomination paper withdrawal.
This is the 3rd BCC poll, after Barisal was announced a city corporation in 2002.
Fair Election Monitoring Alliance’s district secretary, Enayet Hossain Chowdhury said that the prevailing chaotic political situation in the country ahead of the national elections and indecision of opposition alliance in participating in the BCC poll, created an uncertain situation in the city.
At least 210,430 voters are expected to vote for one mayoral post, 30 general and 10 reserved posts for 30 wards of BCC, sources informed.
Although the local government elections are non-political by law, political parties back their candidates for the polls.
According to sources, Shawkat Hossain Hiron, the existing mayor of BCC is expected to get the ruling Awami league nomination. Advocate Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, former mayor off BCC, is expected to be backed by main opposition BNP, while Jatiya Party is yet to select a mayoral candidate.
Jamaat secretary Zahiruddin Md Babar said that this party would follow the decision of the 18 party alliance as the city Jamaat Ameer is in police custody.
