As the day unfolded, the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election witnessed a decline in voter turnout, with many polling centres looking deserted. Talking to presiding officers, UNB's Khulna correspondent reported that on average, 11 percent votes were cast as of 11 am. Also read: Khulna city polls: Jatiya Party's mayor candidate says agents barred from entering polling stations Shaheed Suhrawardy College centre under ward 25 witnessed a particularly low voter turnout with a voting rate of 9.02 percent. Ranjit Kumar Biswas, presiding officer of the centre, said only 135 votes had been cast by 11 am, despite a total of 1,493 registered voters. Similarly, under ward 18, the Darul Quran Siddiquia Kamil Madrasa centre also saw a low voter turnout with a rate of 10.25 percent. Mohammad Manik, presiding officer of the centre, said that out of 1,658 registered voters, a mere 170 had cast their votes by 11 am. In ward 19, the National High School centre reported an 11 percent voter turnout. Two presiding officers from ward 27 said that the PTI women's centre had witnessed a 7.02 percent polling rate, while the men's centre had recorded a 9 percent turnout by 11 am. Also Read: Barishal city polls: Voters being barred from coming to polling stations, say 2 mayoral candidates However, an exception was observed at the Khulna College centre, in ward 17. Out of 2,868 registered voters at that centre, 533 had cast their votes by 11 am, reflecting a polling rate of 18.58 percent. A total of five candidates are vying for the mayoral post in Khulna city, 134 for 31 general councillors, and 39 for 10 reserved female councillors' posts. Also Read: Khulna, Barishal city polls: Voting begins amid much enthusiasm, long queues of voters SM Khurshid Ahmed Tona in ward 13 and ZA Mahmud Don in ward 24 were elected unopposed. The total number of registered voters in Khulna City Corporation is 5,35,528.

Jatiya Party (Ershad)-backed mayoral candidate Md Shafiqul Islam Madhu has alleged that his agents are being barred from entering polling centres by supporters of Awami League (AL) candidate as Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election is underway. He made the allegation while talking to the media after casting his vote at the Collegiate School centere, under ward 17 in Sonadanga Residential Area of Khulna city, around 10:30 am. Also Read: Khulna, Barishal city polls: Voting begins amid much enthusiasm, long queues of voters Expressing doubts about a fair election, the Jatiya Party-backed candidate said that a fair election under the current government is not possible, UNB's Barishal correspondent reported from the spot. He said the process to vote was slow at the polling stations, and the environment was not festive. Asked about his next course of action, Md Shafiqul Islam said, “I will officially inform you (journalists) about my stance after visiting a few more centres." Voting in the KCC election began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. Electronic voting machines are being used at all the centres to take votes. Also Read: Barishal city polls: Clash between AL, Islami Andolon supporters leaves several injured Five candidates are vying for the mayoral post, 136 for councillors in 29 general wards, and 30 for reserved seats. Awami League-backed candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque cast his vote at Pioneer Secondary Girls School centre on the city’s South Central Road around 9:10 am. After voting, the mayoral candidate said the election is being held in a free, fair manner. Also Read: Barishal city polls: Voters being barred from coming to polling stations, say 2 mayoral candidates “I will accept whatever result coming from the voters,” he said, hoping that people will vote for him for continuation of the development. Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are carrying out their duty to ensure security in the KCC election along with 8,080 members from police, Ansar and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The Election Commission (EC) has completed all preparations ahead of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election, scheduled to be held tomorrow (June 12, 2023).  Distribution of all electoral materials from the city’s Divisional Mohila Krira Complex will start from 11 am today.  Returning Officer Md Alauddin said voting at all centres in the KCC election will be held using electronic voting machines (EVM).  Read: KCC Election: 161 polling stations out of 289 vulnerable He said five candidates for mayoral post, 136 for general councillors for 31 wards and 39 for reserved seats will compete in the election.  Two councillors for wards 13 and 24 have been elected unopposed, he said, adding that voting will start at 8 am and will continue till 4pm, without any break.  Khandaker Yasir Arefin, deputy commissioner of Khulna, said 11 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to ensure security in the KCC election and they have been patrolling since this morning.   Each platoon comprising 20 members of the BGB will assist 11 executive magistrates in conducting mobile court, the DC said.    Read:KCC polls: Formal electioneering begins through allocation of symbols Campaigning for the election started on May 26 with the allocation of election symbols and stopped on Saturday midnight as per order of the EC.  The whole city has been wearing a festive look during the electioneering. A total of 5,35,528 people are supposed to exercise their franchise in the 31 wards of Khulna city and there are 1,732 polling booths under 289 polling stations. Read more:Will ensure level playing field in KCC polls: CEC

Campaigning activities for the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election are set to end on Saturday midnight. No candidates will be allowed to continue electioneering after midnight as the election to the Khulna City Corporation is scheduled to be held on Monday. Also read: Will ensure level playing field in KCC polls: CEC Campaigning for the Khulna City Corporation election started on May 26 with the allocation of election symbols.  The whole city has been wearing a festive look during the electioneering. Also read: KCC polls: Formal electioneering begins through allocation of symbols This year, five candidates are vying for mayoral posts, 136 for councillors in 29 general wards, and 30 for reserved seats. Two councillors for wards 13 and 24 have been elected unopposed.  A total of 5,35,528 people are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the 31 wards of Khulna city and there are 1,732 polling booths under 289 polling stations.      

Miscreants attacked the house of former ward councillor and local BNP leader Md Mahbub Kaisar last night. They also reportedly verbally abused Kaisar’s family members and threatened that he should not join the upcoming Khulna city corporation election. Kaisar, elected from Ward 22 twice, was not home when the attack was carried out. His family members and locals said the miscreants — on 14 to 15 motorbikes — came in front of the house around 11:30 pm and tried to break into the house in the Customs Ghat area of Khulna city. They also hurled brickbats at the house, verbally abused Kaisar’s family members and threatened that Kaisar shouldn’t join the election, neighbours said, adding that the miscreants fled when locals started approaching the scene upon hearing the chaos. Kaisar, expected to compete in the upcoming Khulna City Corporation election for the post of ward councillor despite BNP’s decision to boycott the polls, confirmed the incident. He is yet to buy nomination paper. Read more: Khulna City Polls: 5 mayoral candidates collect nomination papers KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque and police have been informed about the incident, Kaisar said, adding that the mayor assured him of looking into the matter. Hasan Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Khulna Sadar police station, confirmed the incident, saying that legal action will be taken once a complaint is filed. It is to be noted that candidates including councillors will be able to buy nomination papers till May 14 while the last date for submission of the papers has been set till May 16.