The stage is set for polling in capital Dhaka’s South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) tomorrow (Saturday) with elaborate arrangements being made to ensure a free and fair poll.
And it is the second bifurcated Dhaka city corporations’ polls now going to take place tomorrow with the participations of different political parties including two ruling Awami League and its arch rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
And all eyes are now on tomorrow’s election to the mayoral and councillor posts of DSCC and DNCC, as the dwellers are eagerly waiting for the day to cast their vote in favour of their chosen candidates.
As the DSCC and DNCC are going to elections amid much enthusiasm, a peaceful environment is prevailing across the city.
Voters in capital Dhaka get a chance to choose their respective city corporations’ areas mayors and councilors through franchise their voting rights.
Of them, Awami League-backed mayor candidates of DSCC Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, also son Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni and incumbent DNCC mayor Atiqul Islam contesting the polls.
Besides, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed DSCC mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain, son of former Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and DNCC mayoral aspirant Tabith Awal are also on the race.
The main competition is likely to be taken place between the candidates of Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Eighteen women are contesting for the posts of councillors in two city corporations, having 129 posts of ward councillors, though the number was 23 in 2015 elections when the number of wards was 113.
Of the 18 candidates, the ruling Awami League extended support to only two female ward councillor candidates while main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party supported four females to contest in the polls.
There are 75 words in Dhaka south city corporation where only 10 females are contesting while there are 54 wards in Dhaka north city corporation where eight candidates are vying for posts of ward councillors.
A total of 244 males are contesting for the posts of 54 ward councillors in DNCC while 315 males are contesting for the posts of 75 ward councillors in DSCC.
The total number of voters in DNCC is 30,10273 while in DSCC 24, 53194.
The Election Commission (EC) and concerned administrations have completed all preparations to hold the elections in a free, fair and credible manner.
The commission also sent all the election materials, including translucent ballot boxes and ballot papers, to the polling stations across the city.
The entire city has been brought under stringent security blankets with the deployment of Border Guard Bangladesh, Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion, Police and other members of different law enforcement agencies in the capital and elsewhere for holding the election in a peaceful and festive mood.
Capital Dhaka got a new look with huge posters, banners and festoons.
On the other hand, as election campaigns ended Thursday midnight, both Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party leadership rounded off their campaigns.
The election campaigns had picked up till early hours of Friday but political leaders continued with their campaigns silently throughout night.
Candidates of both Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party spent the final hours canvassing frantically to woo voters before the deadline for electioneering expired on Thursday midnight.
They wrapped up their election campaign addressing a number of election meetings, street rallies at various places throughout the DSCC and DNCC area.
In the final campaign hours, the candidates were busy in door-to-door campaigning and addressing rallies at different places in the city.
Meanwhile, restriction has been imposed on holding any kind of meetings, gatherings and processions from 48 hours before starting of the voting and 48 hours after the end of the voting in the election.
During this period, no one will be able to commit any ferocious act or indiscipline behavior.
He/she will not be able to scare the voters or the people concerned.
Besides, none will be able to show arms or exercise muscle power during this period.
If anyone violates the rules, he/she will have to suffer maximum seven years or minimum two years in prison and fine.