Tension has grown between the ruling Awami League and Election Commission over MPs participation in the Dhaka city polls campaign.

A 19-day election campaign for the two Dhaka city corporations polls officially began yesterday with the ruling party candidates pledging to continue the ongoing development work in the capital.

“Very important” persons like ministers and lawmakers cannot take part in election activities and campaign ahead of the Dhaka city corporation polls, Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder says.

The ruling Awami League nominates Atiqul Islam and Fazle Noor Taposh as its mayoral candidates for the upcoming elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) respectively.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda says they will not use Electronic Voting Machines or EVMs in polls to the two Dhaka city corporations if everybody wants.

Overwhelmed by the vociferous postmortem of the city corporation polls, two footfalls on the cityscape have gone unnoticed, unappreciated, as though coming and going on stealth.

The ultimate tragedy will strike if people become withdrawn. It will no longer matter who wins or loses any of the many elections.

The EC's tilt was no less pronounced on the eve of and on the day of the elections. Press reports, photographs and narratives of many involved in the election administration process have amply established its culpability in undermining fair election.

IT is disquieting to see that the media was conspicuously barred from properly covering the city polls.

WHAT started off as a peaceful, tension-free day of voting, turned out to be a disappointment for the city dwellers of Dhaka and Chittagong.

IN these very columns we had carried an article with a similar heading following the farcical January 5, 2013 elections. Regrettably, we have to say the same about yesterday's mayoral election that did not live upto our expectations.

Experts and observers share their views on the electoral proceedings of the City Corporation Elections and their implications for the political climate of the country with The Daily Star.

Ruling Party Awami League supporters allegedly stormed into Uttar Kafrul Government Primary School and vandalised ballot boxes in Cantonment area under Dhaka North City Corporation this morning.

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson expresses his disappointment with the boycott by BNP endorsed candidates from the city corporation elections partway through voting.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police slaps a restriction on motorcycle movement from 12:01am Sunday to 6:00am Wednesday as part of security measures for the bifurcated Dhaka city corporation elections.

The returning officer of Dhaka North City Corporation sends letter to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia accusing her of violating the electoral code of conduct.

Police arrest a BNP-blessed councilor candidate from Hazaribagh in Dhaka.

An Awami League leader files a case while a BNP leader lodges a complaint blaming each other in connection with the attack during BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s election campaign at Karwan Bazar in Dhaka.

The government remove security men from around the Gulshan residence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

BNP-blessed mayoral aspirant Tabith Awal and Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh-backed candidate Mahi B Chowdhury urge Election Commission to deploy army ahead of Dhaka city polls scheduled for April 28.