All set to hold Khulna city polls tomorrow

The Election Commission has completed all necessary preparations to hold the elections to Khulna City Corporation tomorrow.

Returning Officer Md Younus Ali said all necessary preparations have already been taken to hold the elections. The elections will be held from 8:00am to 4:00pm without break, he said.

Talking to The Daily Star, he said that all electoral material including ballot papers have already been sent to polling stations.

“If allegation of irregularities is found in any polling station, the authorities will suspend voting in the centre,” he added.

Five candidates are vying to mayoral posts while 148 candidates are contesting for councilor posts, 38 for reserved posts for women.

A total of 4,93,093 voters are like to exercise their voting rights in 1,178 polling stations across the city.

The mayor candidates are: Ruling Awami League nominated Talukder Abdul Khalek, BNP nominated Najrul Islam Manju, Jatiya Party nominated SM Shafiqur Rahman, Islami Andolan Bangladesh nominated Principal Maulana Mujammil Haque and Communist Party of Bangladesh nominated Mizanur Rahman Babu.

A total of 16 platoons of BGB have been deployed in the city since Sunday while 9,500 policemen and APBN, 4,000 Ansar and VDP members and 900 ancillary Ansar-VDP members will perform their duties during the elections, BSS adds.

Besides, 32 patrol teams of RAB comprising eight members in each team and four striking force teams comprising 10 members in each team also will perform duties in the election field. Ten motorcycle teams and 11 picket teams will also perform duties during the election time.

A total of 31 executive magistrates will maintain law and order and monitor whether candidates electoral rules and regulations during the elections.

Election Commission sources said Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) will be used in two polling stations in the KCC elections.