Three to vie for chairmanship in Magura municipality polls

Hectic campaign for Magura Municipality election is going on in full swing. The election will be held on January 18.

Three candidates will contest for the pest of chairman.

They are: Khan Monwar Hossain (BNP led 4-party alliance), Abdul Gafur (Awami League) and Iqbal Akhter Khan Kafur (Independent).

Most of the candidates are now moving from door to door with their election pledges. The voters are seen gossiping in public places on various issues. In tea-stalls and market places debates on election related matters are going on.

After about nine years, election is going to be held here much to the happiness to the voters.

The last municipality election there was held on January 30, 1993.

In 1995 the class three municipality was upgraded into first class one then the necessity of area extension became essential. About 5.5 square kilometre areas of the adjoining union councils named Kasundi, Chowlia, Atharokhonda Jagdal and Moghi of Magura Sadar upazila were included in the newly formed first class municipality.

But the chairmen of the aforementioned union councils jointly filed a case with the High Court protesting the decision of area extension. As the case was pending with the court election of the municipality could not be held on scheduled date on January 30, 1998.

But after about 9 years the Election Commission declared the election date of the municipality in the first week of last month.

Seven candidates of different political parties including an independent candidate submitted nomination papers for the post of chairman while 81 persons filed nominations for the post of nine ward commissioners while 17 candidates filed nominations for the three reserved seats for women.

Later the number of candidate, for the post of chairman stood at three.