Election today in 62 more municipalities

A total of 62 municipalities would go to polls today amid worries of violence.

This time, the Election Commission (EC) is conducting the polls in five phases. Today would be the third phase of it.

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

Mohammad Alamgir, senior secretary to the EC, told The Daily Star, "We have completed our preparations and believe that voting will be held peacefully."

The EC has also taken measures to prevent any kind of violence during and after the elections, he added.

He said that they have taken a lesson from Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) elections where oragnised people created some untoward incidents.

"We have asked law enforcers to increase intelligence surveillances so that oragnised people cannot carry out any untoward plan," he added.

He said health measures would be strictly followed as the election are taking place amid Covid 19 pandemic.

A total of 229 people are running for mayor at the 62 municipalities in 36 districts.

There are 2,360 councillor candidates and 755 women's reserve seat candidates.

The EC was supposed to hold elections to 64 municipalities in the third phase. But the election to the Sujanagar municipality was postponed due to a court case.

No election will be needed for Laksam of Cumilla as all mayor and ward councillor candidates of the municipalities were elected unopposed.

No election for the mayor position will be held for two municipalities -- Tungipara of Goplaganj and Morelganj of Bagherhat -- as the AL mayoral candidates of the municipalities were elected unopposed.

Our Correspondent in Pabna reported that tense situation is prevailing in Pabna town over Pabna municipality.

The situation arise an a polling agent of AL rebel candidate Sarif Uddin Prodhan was beaten by the supporters of AL candidate Mortuza Bishwas Sony yesterday noon,

Supporters of AL candidate attacked and vandalised at least three election campaign offices on Thursday night. The attack left five injured.

Pabna Superintendent of Police Muhibul Islam Khan said additional police deployed in the important places for keeping the law and order situation under control.

Beside, Police and six platoons of Rab and BGB were also deployed in Pabna for keeping law and order situation under control in the election, the SP said.

So far the ruling Awami League candidates clinched sweeping victories in the first and second phase of the municipality elections.

AL men won 45 out of 60 municipalities in the second phase of election on January 16. BNP gained victory in four municipalities and independent candidates in eight. One candidate each from the Jatiya Party and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal won the elections.

In the first phase election on December 28, AL contenders achieved success in 18 municipalities out of 24, BNP candidates in two municipalities and independent candidates in three.

Fifty six municipalities will go for election on February 14 in the fourth phase, of them EVM will be used in 31 municipalities.

Elections to 31 municipalities will be held in the fifth phase on February 28, using EVM.