Voting in Khulna and Barisal city elections ended at 4pm in an overall peaceful manner on Monday with reports of isolated incidents of violence in some places.
There were no reports of violence in Khulna. However, Islami Andolan Bangladesh mayoral candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim along with his supporters was injured in a alleged attack carried out by his opponents.
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Md Ahsan Habib termed that incident as “unexpected and isolated”.
Voting for the 31 wards of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls and 30 wards of Barisal City Corporation (BCC) polls began at 8am.
Dhaka TribuneThe voting took place via electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 289 centres in Khulna and 126 polling stations in Barisal.
Eager voters, including men and women, began queuing in front of polling centres in the morning.
Even the elderlies, with the support of others, came to exercise their franchise with enthusiasm.
Heavy security prevailed at the centres to ensure that voters can cast their votes without interruptions.
Dhaka TribuneAround 8,300 members of the law enforcement agencies including 4,520 policemen were deployed in Khulna city. Also, there were 11 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh for the election. Plus, 16 striking forces of the Rapid Action Battalion were deployed in the KCC polls.
On the other hand, about 4,500 members of law enforcement agencies, 10 platoons of BGB, 30 executive magistrates, and 10 judicial magistrates were working for the Barisal city polls.
In Khulna, a total of 2,320 CCTV cameras were installed both inside and outside 1,732 polling booths.
Meanwhile, 1,200 CCTV cameras were installed to ensure the security of the 894 polling booths in 126 voting centres in Barisal.
Dhaka TribuneThe Election Commission (EC) monitored the Khulna and Barisal City Corporation polls through CCTV cameras at the Election Commission headquarters.
Election Commissioner Md Ahsan Habib Khan praised the smooth, orderly and unhindered voting environment in the Khulna and Barisal City Corporation elections.
In the KCC polls, five candidates are vying for the mayoral post. They are AL-backed Talukder Abdul Khaleque (boat), Jatiya Party's Shafiqul Islam Modhu (plough), Bangladesh Islami Andolon's Moulana Abdul Awal (hand Fan), Zaker Party's SM Sabbir Hossain (rose) and independent candidate Shafiqur Rahman Mushfiq (table clock).
Dhaka TribuneSeven candidates are vying for the mayoral post in the Barisal City Corporation polls, while 119 councillors for general post and 42 for reserved posts, with the ruling party backing a new candidate.
