The Election Commission (EC) is expecting a violence-free voting in Chattogram City Corporation today (on Wednesday).
Meanwhile, the EC has already completed all preparations on Tuesday for the smooth voting across 41 wards in the port city.
A total of 233 candidates are competing in the election and 1.951 million voters will elect representatives to run their city for the next 5 years.
Those in charge of the polling stations and booths received the types of equipment at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram and at the control room established by EC for vote purpose.
The EC source said it is emphasizing on compliance of health safety rules at all the vote centers in regard to coronavirus transmission. The voting will be held in all the 735 centers by EVM.
While visiting the control room of MA Aziz Stadium on Tuesday afternoon it was noticed that the EC officials are making last minute preparations to complete the election smoothly. Officials had gathered there to get the necessary types of voting equipment.
Simon Nahar, an assistant presiding officer at the Khastgir Girls' School Center in 21 No Jamal Khan Ward said, “As the EC has given us adequate training to deal with EVM, we expect to hold votes peacefully.”
Explaining how a voter would cast his or her vote in an EVM, Nahar said, “Separate electronic ballots will have for the Mayor, General Councilor and Reserved Councilor posts. If the data verification is correct, the voter will apply the vote in a concealed room by pressing the white button next to the candidate and symbol and confirm it by pressing the green button in the ballots.”
The CCC election is the biggest voting event in the country being held during the Corona epidemic.
“No one can enter the center without wearing a mask,” Shariful Islam, another assistant presiding officer said adding that, “Earlier in the orientation, the EC has pledged to hold the election in compliance with the national guidelines on coronal health safety rules.”
In the run-up to the CCC elections, the emphasis is on keeping the law and order situation under control. Although there is not much animosity between the mayoral candidates of the two main parties - Awame League and BNP, however, there is tension among the supporters of the councilor candidates in many wards. Election violence already claimed a few lives while leaving scores injured.
In a meeting with law enforcers in Chattogram on Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner CEC KM Nurul Huda said clashes and loss of life in the elections were unfortunate. He directed the local administration to take the necessary steps to avoid any clashes in the elections.
Around 13,000 members of Border Guard, Bangladesh or BGB, Rapid Action Battalion, RAB, Police, Ansar, and other law enforcing agencies deployed in the city to keep the polls free and fair. Meanwhile, BGB teams are patrolling in the streets.
The EC has set up a cell for law and order coordination and monitoring in EC headquarter at Capital Dhaka. The body is headed by Brigadier General Abul Kashem Mohammad Fazlul Haque, director of the commission's Idea Project, and includes senior officials from the home ministry, police headquarters, RAB, BGB, and Ansar.
Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, Returning Officer of the election said that all steps have been taken to ensure smooth voting.
In the election, out of 735 centers, 418 centers have been identified as risky and these are being considered as ‘Important’, which means most of the centers have been identified as risky in this election and security arrangements have been made in accordance.
“Considering the situation, the polling stations of CCC has been divided into important and general areas; Mohammad Hasanuzzaman said that 18 law enforcement personnel will be deployed at important centers. There are 13-16 members of the law enforcement agencies in the general centers.”
Hasanuzzaman also said that the commission would pay special attention to the centers identified as important.
As the campaign is stopped on Tuesday as per the rules, the mayoral candidates of the two main parties Awami League’ M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and BNP’s Dr. Shadat Hossain has engaged in an internal meeting with party men.
However, BNP has alleged that the police in various areas are intimidating their leaders and activists.
But Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, Commissioner of Ctg Metropolitan Police denied the allegation in a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon at Police Line, Dampara of the city.