Rangpur city polls today

Staff Reporter :
Voting for Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) election will be held today (Tuesday).
Ahead of the RpCC election, distribution of voting equipment started from Monday morning.
The Election Commission has already taken all kinds of preparations. The voting equipment were sent to 229 polling stations yesterday.
Police personnel of different ranges of Rangpur and Rajshahi along with ansar members gathered on the Rangpur Police Lines ground to receive the voting equipment. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used for voting.
Returning Officer Abdul Baten formally inaugurated the distribution programme.
He said that all preparations have been completed for the election to be conducted in a free, fair and impartial manner.
He said that so far everything related to the elections had been done peacefully. It is hoped that, the election will be held in a peaceful manner.
Installation of CCTVs has been completed in all 229 polling stations. Election commissioners including the chief election commissioner will directly observe the entire process including voting on the election day from Dhaka, he added.
The returning officer also said that all motorcycles have been banned in the Rangpur City Corporation area from Sunday midnight. Traffic has been controlled. All types of vehicles and easy bikes will be closed on election day from midnight on Monday. Adequate number of law enforcement forces will be deployed at the polling stations. RAB, BGB, police and law enforcement personnel will ensure security.
On the other hand, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Noor-e-Alam Mina said that each polling station will have adequate number of law enforcement forces as well as special reserve striking force and mobile party. They will be conducted under the supervision of senior officers of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.
Besides, 33 executive magistrates will be on mobile duty with the police force. Eleven BGB teams, 16-17 RAB teams will also perform their emergency duties. In addition to this, plainclothes police intelligence teams and other detectives will work, he added.
He said law and order forces will take all measures so that voters can stand in line and safely vote at the polling station.
Senior officers of the Election Commission and metropolitan police were present during the exchange of views.
Voting will begin at 8am and will continue till 4:30pm, Returning Officer Abdul Baten confirmed.
Nine candidates are vying for the mayoral post whole 183 people are contesting for councillor posts under 33 wards. Sixty-eight people are contesting the polls for 11 reserved seats.
The mayor candidates are Amiruzzaman from Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Abu Raihan from Bangladesh Congress, Touhidur Rahman Mandal from Khelafat Majlish, Mostafizur Rahman from Jatiya Party, Shafier Rahman from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad), Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia from Awami League, Khorshed Alam from Zaker Party, Mehedi Hasan and Latifur Rahman as independent candidates.
This year, 426,470 people are expected to exercise their franchise in the city corporation election. Of them, 212,302 are men while 214,469 women.
“All preparations have been taken to hold a free and fair election and voting will be held at 229 centres through electronic voting machines,” he said.
Mobile court drives will be conducted to ensure the election code is being followed, he said.
Campaigning in the Rangpur City Corporation election ended on Sunday midnight amid much enthusiasm.
Mobile court drives will be conducted to ensure that the election code is being followed, he said.
Campaigning in the Rangpur City Corporation election ended on Sunday midnight amid much enthusiasm.
A total of 229 presiding officers, 1,349 assistant presiding officers and 2,698 polling officers will perform their duties on the election day.
The first Rangpur City Corporation election was held on December 21, 2017. The tenure of the current mayor will end on February 18, 2023.
As per the election act, voting for any city corporation must be held within 180 days of the expiration of current posts of mayors and councillors.
A three-tier security approach will be taken at each polling booth.
Eleven platoons of BGB will be deployed in each reserved ward while RAB and other force personnel will remain there to ensure security.