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).

Voting in Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and Barishal City Corporation (BCC) elections began amid much enthusiasm this morning (June 12, 2023). Voters are seen standing in long queues at polling centres to cast their votes using electronic voting machines (EVM) in a peaceful manner. Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. No untoward incident was reported till this report was filed around 8:30 am. The city corporation elections are being monitored by the Election Commission from Dhaka through CCTV cameras. Read:EC ready to hold Khulna city polls tomorrow, BGB deployed  A good number of law enforcers have been deployed to ensure tight security measures at each polling station so that voters can exercise their right. In the Khulna city corporation election, five candidates are vying for the mayoral post, 136 for councillors in 29 general wards, and 30 for reserved seats. Two councillors for wards 13 and 24 were elected unopposed earlier. Awami League-backed candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque cast his vote at Pioneer Secondary Girls School centre on the city’s South Central Road around 9:10am. Read:Gazipur city polls will be free and fair, says EC commissioner After voting, the mayoral candidate said the election is being held in a free, fair manner. “I will accept whatever result coming from the voters,” he said, hoping that people will vote for him for continuation of the development. Eleven platoons 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). There are 5,35,528 voters in the 31 wards of Khulna city and there are 1,732 polling booths under 289 polling stations. Read more:BNP won’t join 5 city polls in any way: Fakhrul Of them, 161 polling stations are considered “vulnerable”. On the other hand, seven candidates are competing for the mayoral post in the Barishal city polls. Besides, 119 candidates are in the race for the post of general councillor and 42 candidates for the reserved councillor post. Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah Khokon Serniabat cast his vote at the Government Barishal College on Kalibari road in the city. Read more: Barishal city polls: Voters being barred from coming to polling stations, say 2 mayoral candidates Jatiya Party-backed candidate Iqbal Hossain Taposh exercised his franchise at Syed Abul Manan DDF Alim Madrasah on Gorostan road, Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim at Rupatoli Housing Abdur Rob Serniabat Secondary School. Zaker Party’s candidate Md Mizanur Rahman Bachhu also cast his vote at Chhutpur Secondary School while independent candidate Md Kamrul Ahsan Rupon at Alekanda Govt Primary School in the city. A total of 276,298 voters will be able to cast their votes in 126 polling stations in 30 wards. Of the centres, 106 are considered “vulnerable”. Ten platoons of the BGB remain deployed in the BCC election along with 4,500 members of the law enforcing agencies. Read more: Jamaat's statement on resisting upcoming nat'l election came from BNP: Hasan Mahmud

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

Level playing field will be ensured in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election slated for June 12, said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday. “All will get equal opportunities and the election will be free and fair. There will be no partisan election. We are using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the voting which has left no chance to change the election results. No one will be allowed to obstruct voters and curtail people’s rights to franchise,” he said. The CEC came up with the remarks while speaking at a view-exchange meeting over the KCC election at the auditorium of Khulna Shilpakala Academy. The election will be monitored through CCTV from the central office, he said. Expressing satisfaction over the Gazipur City Corporation election, the CEC said “We are working round the clock to ensure free and fair election and we’ll gift a fair election in Khulna.” He also urged all to abide by the electoral code of conduct. Kazi Habibul said local administration will take strict action against those who will violate the electoral code of conduct.    

The Election Commission on Thursday declared the nomination papers of three mayoral candidates valid while cancelled those of four others in the upcoming Khulna City Corporation Election. Returning Officer Md Alauddin declared Awami League -backed candidates of Talukdar Abdul Khalek, Islami Andolon- backed candidate Abdul Auwal and Jatiya Party -backed candidate Shafiqul Islam Madhu Prodhan valid. Those whose nomination papers were cancelled are—independent candidates SM Shafiqur Rahman, Al Amin Md Abdullah Chowdhury and Syed Quamrul Islam. Their nomination papers were cancelled due to wrong information provided in the documents attached with the nomination papers. Besides, Jatiya Party-backed candidate SM Sabbir Hossain’s nomination paper was cancelled as he failed to submit tax return copy and certificate. Also read: KCC Polls: 222 candidates -7 mayoral- collect nomination papers The scrutiny of the nomination papers for the reserved women and general councilors is going on. On May 16, 195 people including seven mayoral candidates submitted their nomination papers. The withdrawal of the candidature is May 25. The KCC election is scheduled to be held on June 12.