The Election Commission has launched all out preparations to hold the upcoming polls in Rajshahi, Barisal, and Sylhet city corporations, in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
The commission’s Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said: “We will do whatever it takes to host neutral polls, so voters can cast their votes without any trouble in the three cities on July 30. The commission will also not tolerate any sort of irregularities by election officials.”
“The commission has taken initiatives to know the situation at voting centres, as it did during the Gazipur city polls. The presiding officers will update the commission instantly by SMS,” he added.
Helaluddin said the Election Commission’s observers will monitor all types of activities of election officials, candidates, and their workers. One observer will be deployed for every three wards, reports BSS.
“The observers will inform the Election Commission if they find any type of irregularity,” he said.
“Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will be deployed at every ward in the three city corporations, two days before the polls,” he said.
Helaluddin further added: “One platoon of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will also be deployed for every two wards of the election areas, and they will discharge their duties till the day after the polls.”
There will be four BGB platoons in reserve for any type of unstable situation.
The secretary said a total of 10 executive magistrates conducted mobile courts in the three city corporation areas from June 9 to 14.
“Ten more executive magistrates are conducting mobile courts in the three city corporations from July 10, which will continue till August 1,” he said.
“Also, 20 executive magistrates will be deployed for every city corporation to monitor violations of the electoral code of conduct and to ensure security in the polling areas two days ahead of the election.”
Ten judicial magistrates will also be deployed in Rajshahi and Barisal city corporation areas with nine judicial magistrates for Sylhet city polling areas, added Helaluddin.
Election Commission sources said Rajshahi City Corporation has a total of 318,138 voters, Barisal City Corporation has 242,666 voters, and Sylhet City Corporation 321,732 voters.
One mobile team comprising members of police, APBn, and Ansar and VDP will be deployed in every general ward and one striking force team will be deployed for every three wards.
Besides, 24 law personnel will be deployed at every important voting centre.
Contestants in the 3 city polls
In Rajshahi City Corporation, four candidates are contesting for the mayoral post. They are – Awami League’s AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, BNP’s Mosaddek Hossain, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md Shafiqul Islam, and independent runner Md Murad Morshed.
In Barisal City Corporation, six candidates are contesting the mayoral post. They are – Awami League’s Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, BNP’s Md Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Obaidur Rahman, Communist Party of Bangladesh’s Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal’s Manisha Chakraborty, and Jatiya Party’s Md Iqbal Hossain.
In Sylhet City Corporation, seven candidates are running for the mayoral post. They are – Awami League’s Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, BNP’s Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md Moazzem Hossain Khan, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal’s Md Abu Jafar, and independent runners Ahasan Mahbub Jobayer, Md Ahasanul Haque Taher and Md Badruzzaman Selim.
A total of 530 general ward and reserved seat councillor candidates are also contesting in the three city polls.
Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used at 11 centres in Barisal and two each in Rajshahi and Sylhet.
Syed Amirul Islam, Mujibur Rahman and Md Alimuzzaman have been appointed as the returning officers in Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet cities, respectively.
