BNP-backed Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral runner Tabith Awal has alleged that his agents have been barred from entering different polling centres to carry out their election-related duties.
He made the allegation after casting his vote at the Manarat Dhaka International School centre in Gulshan 2 at 8:11am on Saturday.
Tabith claimed they have information that their agents were barred from entering Kalachandpur High School centre under Ward 18, Banani Model School centre under Ward 19, and a centre in Banasree area under Ward 36.
He requested law enforcement officials and the Election Commission to take steps on the matter.
The mayoral aspirant also expressed doubt about the city elections, saying it was not going to be fair.
BNP-backed mayoral candidate Tabith Awal talks to the media casting his vote at the Manarat Dhaka International School centre in Gulshan on Saturday, February 1, 2020 | Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka TribuneHe said: "The polls are not going to be fair. Nevertheless, I am urging the voters to turn up at the polling stations and exercise their franchise."
The voting for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) elections began at 8am, using only the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all polling centres.
This is the first ever EVM-only city polls being held in Bangladesh. The voting will continue until 4pm without any break.
As many as 3,010,273 people are expected to exercise their right of franchise at the DNCC, and 2,453,194 at the DSCC elections.
A total of 13 mayoral candidates are vying for the two positions at the Dhaka north and south city corporations, while around 7,500 candidates are contesting for councillor posts in the two city corporations.
There are 1,318 polling centers in DNCC, and 1,150 in DSCC.
