Voting underway in 24 municipalities

Voting in 24 municipalities started this morning, using electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The election began at about 8:00am and will continue till 4:00pm.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Election Commission (EC) will conduct municipalities' polls in four phases this time. Today's voting is the first phase.

Our Savar correspondent reports, voting at Ekush Jyoti Bidya Niketon Centre in Dhamrai is being hampered as three out of six EVMs are not working.

Shah Alam, the presiding officer of the centre, said, "The authorities provided the centre with six EVMs." So, voting is continuing with the other machines, he said.

Talking to the correspondent, many voters complained that they were standing in the queue for at least two hours but could not cast votes yet. Around 1,660 voters are expected to cast their votes at the centre.

In Pabna, voting is going on peacefully in Chatmohar municipality where four mayor candidates, 26 councillor candidates and 11 female councillor candidates are contesting.

Md Alamgir Hossain, Chatmohar upazila election officer and also the assistant returning officer, said a total of 12,237 voters will cast their votes at nine polling centres in Chatmohar municipality, our Pabna correspondent reports.

In Moulvibazar, voting at Borolekha municipality is going on with enthusiasm.

People, especially women voters, were seen standing in long queues at different centres even before the voting began.

Voters, especially women, are voting in Borolekha municipality of Moulvibazar with enthusiasm. Photo: Star

The battle of ballots is expected to be held between two major political parties -- Awami League and BNP -- although candidates of other political parties including Jatiya Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh are contesting in it.

A total of 6.25 lakh voters are expected to cast their votes at the 24 municipalities in 22 districts, according to the EC.

A total of 93 mayor aspirants are contesting for the 24 posts, while there are 801 councillor candidates for 216 posts and 266 candidates for 72 women's reserve seats, as per the EC.