DHAKA: Ballot counting has begun soon as voting ended in nine municipalities of the country on Wednesday afternoon (May 25).

Earlier, voting began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm uninterruptedly.

Election Commission (EC) election management branch assistant secretary Rajib Ahsan said the election was held in Ghorashal and Raypura municipalities of Narsingdi district; Laxmipur of Laxmipur district; Kasba of Brahmanbaria; Noakhali and Senbagh of Noakhali; Chhagalnaiya of Feni; Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar and Ramgarh of Khagrachhari district.

In the elections, 21 candidates have been vying under party support and five competing independently for mayor positions while 316 candidates fighting for member posts and 70 for reserve posts.

However, Teknaf mayor candidate and eights member candidates of Ghorashal and Kasba municipalities have already been elected uncontested.

A total of 313,691 voters were expected to practice their franchise rights in 133 polling centers.

EC deployed members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and Ansars ahead of elections.

Meanwhile, BNP has demanded re-election in those municipalities on allegation of rigging.

They also asked chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad to resign.

BDST: 1901 HRS, MAY 25, 2016
SR/RR