Sayeed Muhammad: City dwellers of Gazipur are all set to exercise their franchise as voting in the city election starts at 8am amid tight security, with the Election Commission (EC) completing all necessary preparations in this regard.
“All necessary preparations have already been taken to hold the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner,” said EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmad, reports BSS. The elections that will take place without any break, will end at 4pm, he said, adding, general holiday has been announced for today in the city corporation area when all factories and industries, including garments, in the area will remain closed. According to Returning Officer’s office, a total of 345 candidates, including seven for mayoral post, 254 for councillor posts, 83 for reserved posts for women, are running in the polls race. Some 11,37,736 voters will exercise their franchises at 425 polling stations in 57 wards across the city corporation area. The mayor candidates are ruling Awami League nominated Md Jahangir Alam, BNP nominated Hasan Uddin Sarker, Islami Oikkya Jote nominated Fazlur Rahman (Minar), Islami Andolan Bangladesh nominated Md Nasir Uddin, Bangladesh Islami Front nominated Md Jalal Uddin, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) nominated Md Ruhul Amin and independent candidate Farid Ahmed.