Voting in Rajshahi City Corporation elections has begun this morning (June 21).

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

The Election Commission has identified 148 out of 155 polling stations in Rajshahi and 132 centres out of 190 in Sylhet as vulnerable to potential violence.

Additional security measures were taken for the EC-marked vulnerable centres to ensure the public votes peacefully.

Ruling Awami League-backed mayoral candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Jatiya Party-backed Saiful Islam Swapan, Zaker Party-backed Lotif Anwar, and Islami Andolon’s Murshid Alam are contesting for mayor’s office in the RCC polls.

Besides, 46 candidates are contesting for 10 reserved councillor posts, while 111 are vying for 30 regular councillor positions.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh announced a boycott of the Rajshahi and Sylhet city polls in protest of an attack on the party’s mayoral candidate during the Barishal City Corporation polls on June 12.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, however, boycotted the ongoing city elections.

This year, 3,52,157 voters are expected to vote in RCC polls. Among them, 1,71,185 are male voters, while 1,80,972 are female.

A total of 30,157 new voters were listed for the first time.

In the RCC polls, 76.28 per cent of votes were cast in 2018, while 74.85 per were cast in 2013.

Earlier, on May 25, independent candidate Zayeda Khatun defeated AL candidate Azmat Ullah in the Gazipur City Corporation polls, while AL candidates Abul Khair Abdullah and Talukder Abdul Khaleque won mayoral polls in Barishal and Khulna, respectively, after winning the June 12 polls.

Voter turnout in Barishal City Corporation polls was 50 per cent in 2023 and Khulna 45 per cent in 2023.

Gazipur City Corporation polls’ voter turnout was 48.60 per cent in 2023, according to the EC.

BDST: 0933 HRS, JUNE 21, 2023
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