Comilla city goes to polls tomorrow

Mayoral candidates from the ruling Awami League and the BNP wrapped up their intensive two-week-long campaign in Comilla yesterday midnight in the run-up to the city corporation polls. 

More than two lakh voters are entitled to cast their ballots tomorrow to elect city mayor from four contestants --  former mayor BNP nominated Monirul Hoque Shakoo, former ward councillor and AL candidate Anjum Sultana Sima, Shirin Akter from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) and independent candidate Maj (Ret) Mamunur Rashid.

This is the first election under the newly-formed Election Commission, in which candidates from both the ruling party and the BNP are participating and they seem to be neck and neck in the electoral race.

Huge security measures have been taken to ensure free and fair voting and to maintain law and order during the election. Members of Border Guard Bangladesh have already started patrolling the city.

According to BNP leaders, the city election is a litmus test for the EC that can gain people's faith by holding free and fair polls.

However, Awami League's advisory council member HT Imam told journalists yesterday that he didn't agree to what BNP leaders said.

Former Comilla municipality was upgraded to a city corporation in July 2011. The maiden polls to the corporation were held the following year with Monirul being elected as mayor and Sima a ward councillor.

Awami League's intra-party conflicts turned to a blessing for Monirul in that election, locals said. The feud between party members has not been resolved yet, but the gap between them minimised to some extent.

Election Commission, meanwhile, promised to ensure a level-playing field for the two major political parties.

“Two parties [AL and BNP] met the CEC over various issues. The commission's message is clear -- election should be fair,” Mohammad Abdullah, EC secretary, told journalists.

“Two parties want a level-playing field. We will create a level-playing field for all.”

As many as 3,836 law enforcers have been deployed in the city. Apart from that 36 executive magistrates and nine judicial magistrates will be watching the election.

All the preparations have been completed, said Returning Officer Rakib Uddin Mondol. He sought voters' cooperation.

During the last-day campaign, Sima said she would surely win the contest if voters cast their votes freely.

Her archrival Monirul also said free and fair election would go in his favour. Apart from the mayoral race, 154 will be contesting 36 seats for ward councillors.