NCC polls on Dec 22

Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) will go for polls on December 22, Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule yesterday.

The deadline for submission of nomination papers is November 24, which will be scrutinised on November 26 and 27. And, the last date of withdrawal of nomination is December 4.

Electoral symbols will be allocated among the candidates on December 5, said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed when announcing the schedule in the EC's conference room.

Nuruzzaman Talukder, a deputy secretary to the EC, will act as the returning officer in the polls, while nine other EC officials will act as assistant returning officer.

With this, any city corporation election is going to be held along party lines for the first time in the country after the municipal and Union Parishad polls.

Over 4.79 lakh voters are expected to cast their votes in the polls to elect a city mayor, 27 ward councillors and nine women councillors from the reserved seats.

The maiden election to the NCC was held on October 30, 2011 when Selina Hayat Ivy won the race, defeating ruling Awami League-backed candidate Shamim Osman.

Contacted, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party will decide in due time whether to join the polls.

"We will take decision after reviewing the country's political situation," he added.