Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque won the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election with 1,54,825 votes, according to unofficial results. Khulna City Corporation elections Returning Officer Md Alauddin announced the results after counting of votes ended at all 289 polling centres. His nearest rival, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md Abdul Awal  got 60,064 votes, said Alauddin. Also read: Voting in Khulna, Barishal city polls end; counting on According to unofficial results, Jatiya Party’s  Shafiqul Islam Madhu (plough) bagged 18,074 votes, Independent candidate SM Shafiqur Rahman (clock) got 17,218 and  Jaker Party’s SM Sabbir Hossain (rose) got 6,096 votes. Earlier, voting in the Khulna City Corporation (GCC) election began on Monday using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all polling stations in a peaceful manner. The voting began around 8 am and continued till 4 pm without any break. Also read: Khulna city polls: BNP orders activists, supporters to stay away from voting However, some minor irregularities were reported in both elections causing injuries to some people. Out of 5,35,529 voters eligible for voting in elections across Khulna, 2,56,433 casted their ballots at 1,732 booths of 289 polling stations in Khulna City Corporation elections. Alauddin said 45% voters cast their ballots today. Also read: Voting underway in festive environment in Barishal, Khulna cities: EC Habib Five candidates contested for the mayoral post in Khulna City Corporation election while 136 contested for councillors in 29 general wards, and 30 for reserved seats. Two councillors for wards 13 and 24 were elected unopposed earlier. Meanwhile, eleven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) carried out their duty to ensure security in the KCC election along with 8,080 members from police, Ansar and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Also read: Khulna city polls: Low voter turnout at many centres

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).

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

All 161 polling stations under five wards of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election, slated to be held on June 12, have been identified as vulnerable. According to the sources of Returning Officers and Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), there are 289 polling stations under 31 wards of Khulna city and to maintain law and order, the law enforcement agencies divided it into two segments—‘important’ and ‘general’. This year, the law enforcement agencies declared161 polling stations as ‘important’ while the rest 128 stations were identified as general. Also read: KCC Polls: 222 candidates -7 mayoral- collect nomination papers The polling stations of no 4, 6, 7, 10 and 28 wards of the city were identified as vulnerable while the polling stations under 16, 19 and 22 wards were declared as ‘important’. There are six polling stations under no 4 ward, nine at no 6 ward, 12 at no 10 ward, nine at no 28 ward, 10 at no 16 ward,7 at no 19 ward and 7 under 22 wards. Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Masudur Rahman Bhuiya, said the list of vulnerable polling stations has been prepared after keeping different issues in mind. Primarily, a decision has been taken to deploy seven policemen and 17 Ansar members to each polling station, declared as ‘important’ while seven policemen and 15 Ansar members in the polling stations declared as general. Besides, 3,567 police, 300 armed police, and 4,657 Ansar members will perform their duties in Khulna city to ensure a free and fair election.