Newly elected mayors of three city corporations -- Abul Khair Abdullah of Barishal, Talukder Abdul Khaleque of Khulna and Jayeda Khatun of Gazipur -- took oath this morning

Infighting within the party has grown over the years, leading to the Awami League becoming its own rival at the grassroots level.

Development activities carried out by suspended Gazipur mayor Zahangir Alam, his close ties with the local Awami League leaders and activists and the voters’ sympathy for him were the main reasons for his mother’s victory in the mayoral polls, said voters.

Azmat Ullah Khan’s defeat to a 62-year-old woman with no political background has dealt the Awami League a major blow, sending a message to the ruling party about rifts in its grassroots.

It must also ensure fair campaign in the lead-up to elections

It all happened quietly. There were hardly any polling agents for Zaida Khatun. Even her supporters could barely be seen in the largest city corporation of the country. Even during the campaign, her posters were rarely seen.

The presence of the ruling Awami League was overwhelming inside and outside some polling centres in the first four hours of voting in the Gazipur City Corporation election today

A total of 11,79,476 voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the Gazipur City Corporation election today. The voting started at 8:00am and will continue until 4:00pm without any break.

The voting started at 8:00am and will continue until 4:00pm without any break

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today declined to comment on former Gazipur City AL General Secretary Zahangir Alam's actions surrounding the Gazipur city polls until the party takes a decision in this regard.

TDS: You had not been involved in active politics. Do you think the electoral battle is going to be tough for you?

TDS: The BNP has boycotted the election, and you are the ruling party candidate. How confident are you about winning?

The Awami League mayor candidate in the May 25 Gazipur city polls, Azamat Ullah Khan, will not have to face any party rebels as the lone dissident runner withdrew yesterday.

The Election Commission today said it is satisfied with the explanation given by the mayoral candidate of the ruling Awami League Azmat Ullah Khan in Gazipur City polls regarding his alleged violation of the electoral code of conduct.

The returning officer, however, declared his mother Zaida Khatun's nomination valid

Bringing allegations of irregularities, the BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir rejects the Gazipur City Corporation polls and demands a re-election.

BNP's mayoral candidate for Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) Hasan Uddin Sarker alleged that many of his agents were beaten up and driven out from different polling centres since voting began in the city.

A total of 29 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members are deployed in Gazipur city ahead of the city corporation elections on Tuesday.

Mayor and ward councillor candidates of Gazipur city polls yesterday demanded that law and order be maintained centring the elections so that people could vote in a festive mood and without intimidation.

The BNP will keep a close eye on the Gazipur city polling stations the night before the voting day and try to assemble party men outside to guard the centres during polling as part of its new strategy for the June 26 mayoral polls.