The voters of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) are set to exercise their voting rights in the by-polls today (Thursday) to elect its mayor amid an unheated election atmosphere.
Unlike previous mayoral elections, the DNCC by-polls somewhat failed to create excitement among the city dwellers following non-participation of some major political parties.
A total of five candidates are contesting the by-polls for the mayoral post, which has been vacant since the demise of Annisul Huq on November 30, 2017. He was elected mayor on April 28, 2015.
Atiqul Islam of ruling Awami League is contesting the polls with 'Boat' symbol, while Jatiya Party candidate Shafin Ahmed's symbol is 'Plough', and symbol of National Peoples' Party's (NPP) Anisur Rahman is 'Mango'.
Besides, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Shahin Khan is contesting the polls with 'Tiger', and independent candidate Abdur Rahim is with 'Table Clock' symbol.
However, major political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF), have not given any candidate for the by-polls.
The mayoral election will be held in 54 wards of DNCC, while election to councillor posts in 36 new wards, 18 under DNCC and 18 under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), will also be held on the day.
Besides, by-polls in DNCC ward-21 will be held on the day to elect its councillor following the death of the previous councillor.
The polling in DNCC and 36 new wards of both the city corporations will begin at 8:00 am and will continue until 4:00 pm without any interval.
However, unlike DNCC by-polls, electoral festivity in the new wards is observed, as the voters are ready to elect their councillors for the first time.
A total of 116 candidates from different political parties are contesting for councillor posts in 18 wards of DNCC, while 125 are contesting in 18 wards under DSCC.
General holiday has been announced today in the areas of bifurcated city corporations for the DNCC by-polls and councillor election in 36 wards.
However, centres of public examinations and exam-related teachers and other officials will remain out of the holiday.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has imposed restriction on movement of motorbikes in DNCC areas from Tuesday (February 26) midnight until 12.00 am of March 1, according to a letter signed by EC Deputy Secretary Atiur Rahman.
Besides, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, movement of auto-rickshaws, easy-bikes, microbuses, pickups, cars, buses, trucks and other vehicles in DNCC areas will remain closed from Wednesday midnight to Thursday midnight.
However, the restriction on vehicular movements on the main roads of DNCC areas, inter-district bus terminals and major exit points of the metropolitan will be somewhat relaxed.
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