Elections to Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is underway with ruling Awami League optimistic about victory and BNP proceeding with caution.

The voting to the port city and Bangladesh’s economic capital that started at 8am will continue till 4pm, source at Election Commission said.

The Election Commission (EC) completed all necessary preparations to hold the election in a free, fair and credible manner, said its Senior Secretary Md Alamgir on Tuesday.

A total of 237 contestants, including seven mayoral candidates, 173 councillor runners and 57 aspirants for 14 women reserved seats, are there in the election race.

For the mayoral post, the main fight is expected between AL’s M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury with ‘Boat’ symbol and BNP’s Shahadat with ‘Sheaf of Paddy.’

Among other mayoral candidates, Islami Andolon Bangladesh’s Md Jannatul Islam is fighting with ‘Hand fan’ while MA Matin of Bangladesh Islami Front with ‘Candle’, Muhammad Wahed Murad of Islamic Front Bangladesh with ‘Chair’, Abul Manjur of National People’s Party with ‘Mango’ and independent candidate Khokon Chowdhury with ‘Elephant’.

According to sources at the RO office, there are 1,938,706 voters, including 992,033 males and 946,673 females, in 41 wards of the CCC. There are 4,886 polling booths in 735 centres.

A total of 5,902 presiding and assistant presiding officers and 10,261 polling officers were appointed for holding the election entirely with EVMs.

To maintain the law and order and guard the polling centres, around 20,000 members of police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Ansar were deployed in the city.

There are 89 magistrates, including 20 judicial ones, in the field.

BDST: 1130 HRS, JAN 27, 2021
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