Voting in Rajshahi, Sylhet City Polls Ends; Counting On

Voting in the elections to Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations ended peacefully on Wednesday afternoon with some stray incidents, reports UNB.

The counting began after the voting came to an end at 4pm.

Eight mayoral candidates, including Awami League-backed Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, are contesting the polls in Sylhet while four mayoral contenders, including Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, are contesting in Rajshahi.

The Election Commission (EC) monitored the Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporation elections from the EC auditorium in Dhaka.

A temporary control room was set up to monitor the elections in the two cities.

They monitored the polls situation through 23 digital display boards, and 368 CCTV cameras in 2,520 voting rooms.

Jatiya Party's mayoral candidate for Sylhet City Corporation election, Nazrul Islam Babul, has alleged that BCL and Jubo League leaders and activists are booting out agents for the ‘plough’ symbol from various centres.

“I have been getting repeated calls from different centres that ‘plough’ agents are being thrown out from centres and not allowed to enter many centres,” he said.

He made the allegation while talking to reporters after casting his vote at Ananda Niketan School in the city at 9:30 am on Wednesday.

“I have been saying from the beginning that attempts are being made to influence the election. I have come to cast my vote at Ananda Niketan School. Muscle strength is being demonstrated here,” he said.

“I just got the news that all the agents of ‘plough’ have been booted from Sylhet Government Pilot High School centre by the goons of Chhatra League and Jubo League. I strongly condemn this. I'm going to the centre right now. I will file a written complaint with the Election Commission,” said the Jatiya Party leader.

"The EVM did not work for an hour in the morning. It could also be part of the plot. The Election Commission, the administration, and the returning officers are all in the pockets of the ‘boat’