DNCC mayoral by-polls begins

By-election to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is being held today with five mayoral candidates contesting the polls amid boycott by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).  

The balloting that began at 8am will continue till 4pm without any break.

Awami League candidate Atiqul Islam, Jatiya Party’s Shafin Ahmed, National People’s Party’s Anisur Rahman Dewan, Progressive Democratic Party’s Shaheen Khan and independent candidate Abdur Rahim are in the race for mayoral post.

Atiqul Islam, a former president of the Bangladesh Garments Exporters Association (BGMEA), is considered to be the main contestant among the five mayoral candidates.

The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq on November 30, 2017.

Alongside the mayoral race, election will be held for the post of councilors at 36 new wards, 18 each in DNCC and DSCC. Besides, voting for 12 reserved female councilors, six each in DNCC and DSCC, will be held. By-polls for councilor post at ward 21 will also be held.

A total of 45 reserve councilor and 116 councilor aspirants are contesting the DNCC while 24 reserve councilor and 125 councilor aspirants are in the DSCC poll race.

Voting will start at 8:00am and continue until 4:00pm without any break. The police administration has taken adequate security measures to avert any untoward incidents.The number of votes in Dhaka north city is 30,35,621.

Mobile striking force and striking force of law enforcement agencies have started patrol since Tuesday. Police, APBN, RAB, BGB, Ansar & VDP and coast guard have been deployed since February 26 and they will remain in the voting areas till March 1.

A total 25 platoon BGB have been deployed in DNCC area while six platoons in DSCC area. Four platoons BGB have been deployed for the two city corporation and three platoon BGB kept as reserve force.

A total 19 personnel, including four armed members of the police and three armed and 12 unarmed members of Ansar will guard each voting centre.

On Tuesday, EC imposed a ban on plying of motorcycles and motorised vehicles. Restrictions on motorbikes came into effect on Tuesday midnight and on motorised vehicles will be effective from Wednesday midnight.

Plying of motorised vehicles have been restricted in the election areas for 24 hours from Wednesday midnight.

The restriction will be applicable to motorised three-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, motor bikes, cabs, microbuses, jeeps, pick-ups, private cars, buses, trucks, tempos, easy bikes and locally manufactured vehicles.

Plying of motorcycles has been banned from February 26 midnight to March 1 midnight. The ban will be relaxed on inter-district roads, highways and connecting roads.

Besides, vehicles of the officials engaged in poll duty and law enforcement agencies, ambulances, fire service and civil defence, electricity, gas and telecom will be kept outside the purview of the restriction.

Source: dailysun