Voting is going on for over 200 posts in six municipalities and local governments, including Mymensingh and Comilla city corporations.
Polling started at 8am on Saturday and will continue till 4pm.
Among them, by-elections are being held only for the post of mayor in Comilla City Corporation. On the other hand, voting is being held for all the posts of mayor and councillor in Mymensingh City Corporation. This is the second election in Mymensingh City Corporation.
Besides, general elections are being held in Patuakhali municipality of Patuakhali district, Bakshiganj municipality of Jamalpur district and Amtali municipality of Barguna district.
Trishal municipality of Mymensingh district, Munshiganj municipality of Munshiganj district and Shibganj municipality of Bogra district are holding by-elections for the post of mayor.
A total of 233 elections are being held at various levels in the local government including city corporation, district council, municipality, union council.
Public Relations Director of Election Commission (EC) Shariful Alam said that voting in municipalities, district councils and city corporations is being conducted through electronic voting machines (EVMs). The rest of the elections are held through ballot papers.
Public and private offices in the constituency have been closed for voting. Vehicular movement has also been restricted.
Two leaders of Awami League in Comilla and three in Mymensingh have been candidates as there is no party symbol in the mayoral election. On the other hand, despite not participating in the elections, BNP is in the discussion of the Comilla elections.
Although no BNP candidate participated from Mymensingh, two expelled BNP leaders have contested in Comilla.
On the other hand, there are two parties in Mymensingh Nagar Awami League. Since there are candidates from both parties, the issue of party conflict has come to the fore.
Although there was no major attack-clash during the election campaign of the two cities, the neutrality and inaction of the Election Commission (EC) have been repeatedly questioned by three of the four candidates for the post of mayor in Comilla City Corporation. They also alleged that voters are threatened and intimidated to go to the polls.
In the two city elections, 16 force of law and order forces are deployed for the security of general centre and 17 force in risky centres. A force of 12 to 14 has been deployed in municipalities and 22 in UP elections.
Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said: "We have taken necessary steps to maintain law and order. I gave more force to the places where the demand came from. An additional magistrate has also been provided.”
Our Comilla correspondent Md Mahasin Kabir contributed to the story
