The 5th Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls will be held tomorrow (Tuesday).
The month-long hectic campaign of mayoral aspirants and councilor contenders ended last mid night.
The Khulna Returning Officer's office and law enforcers' agencies have already completed all preparations. Ballot boxes and ballot papers were sent to the respective centres by Monday, said Khulna Returning officer Md. Younus Ali.
Awami League-backed Talukdar Abdul Khaleque (Boat Symbol) and BNP-backed Nazrul Islam Manju (Paddy-sheaf) are the main contenders for the KCC polls, while the other candidates-- Islami Andolon-backed Mowlana Muzammel Haque, JP-backed Shafiqur Rahman Mushfiq and CPB-backed Mizanur Rahman Babu may achieve the third, fourth and fifth positions.
On August 23 in 1988, Khulna Pourasabha turned into Khulna City Corporation when Kazi Aminul Haque, former Jatiya Party leader was selected KCC mayor.
On May 22 in 1991, Sheikh Tayebur Rahman, former central leader of BNP was selected the second KCC mayor. He was also elected twice as KCC mayor in 1994 and 2002.
According to local election commission office, the number of voters in KCC is now 4, 93,093. Of the voters, 2, 44,107 are female voters and the rest 2, 48,986 are male.
In the KCC election of 2013, the total voters were 4,40,568. Of the voters, 2, 16,097 were female voters and the rest 2,24,471 were male. In the 2008 KCC election, the number of voters in KCC was about 3, 99,398.
There are 148 general councilor aspirants racing in 31 wards, while 39 women are contesting against 10 female reserved seats.
The number of polling centres is 289; polling booths are 1561 and 55 temporary booths. Out of 289 polling centres, 234 centres are either very important or vulnerable, says Sonali Sen, additional deputy commissioner of KMP.
The Election Commission has decided to use Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at ward No-24 where only female voters (1,099) will cast votes through EVM at the women’s booth of Sonapota Government Primary School and at Jasim Uddin Hostel centre of ward No. 28 where there are 1,879 voters.
Khulna Returning Officer Md. Younus Ali said EC of Khulna has already selected 289 presiding officers, 1561 assistant presiding officers, and 3122 polling officers.
A total of 1810 ballot boxes will be used for the KCC polls.
On the other hand, a team of 24 policemen along with armed police battalion, Ansars, VDP men led by a sub-inspector, has been deployed on Tuesday in each of the important centres while 22 police and Ansar men have deployed in each general centres who would continue their duty after the poll day also, said Khulna Returning officer.
A total of 70 mobile teams and 10 striking forces will be patrolling the polling centres, a sub- inspector being in charge of four centres.
Over 10,000 law enforcers including about 16 platoons BGB, 32 sector party and 10 striking force team of RAB, one mobile force in each ward, one striking force for every three wards and one RAB team in every two wards would be deployed on the day of polling.
KMP Additional deputy commissioner of Sonali Sen said, "KMP has already deployed all police teams to supervise the election peacefully.”
A control room has been opened at the KMP headquarters to work round the clock. Around 7 check posts have been set up at various entrances of the city, she added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of local and foreign observers are also ready to oversee the poll process. The movement of all vehicles including Mahendra (baby-taxi), battery run easy bikes, jeeps, pick-ups, microbuses, buses and private cars and motorcycles have been stopped from May 13 mid-night to May 15 mid-night, except the vehicles which are used for the election purpose, said a press release issued by KMP.
Carrying of all kinds of licensed fire arms and explosive materials has also been prohibited in the city area.
In the last night of election campaign, till Monday midnight, hugging, handshakes, exchange of pleasantries and even offering sweet smiles with lots of promises are traditional features of five mayoral candidates, but this time the voters are being treated more warmly by the vote beggars.
AIMD
