Jatiya Party's mayoral candidate for Sylhet City Corporation election, Nazrul Islam Babul, has alleged that BCL and Jubo League leaders and activists are booting out agents for the ‘plough’ symbol from various centres.“I have been getting repeated calls from different centres that ‘plough’ agents are being thrown out from centres and not allowed to enter many centres,” he said. Read: 100% hopeful about victory, says Sylhet's AL-backed Mayor Candidate Anwaruzzaman He made the allegation while talking to reporters after casting his vote at Ananda Niketan School in the city at 9:30 am on Wednesday (June 21, 2023).“I have been saying from the beginning that attempts are being made to influence the election. I have come to cast my vote at Ananda Niketan School. Muscle strength is being demonstrated here,” he said.“I just got the news that all the agents of ‘plough’ have been booted from Sylhet Government Pilot High School centre by the goons of Chhatra League and Jubo League. I strongly condemn this. I'm going to the centre right now. I will file a written complaint with the Election Commission,” said the Jatiya Party leader. Read: Sylhet city polls: Voting peaceful so far"The EVM did not work for an hour in the morning. It could also be part of the plot. The Election Commission, the administration, and the returning officers are all in the pockets of the ‘boat’ candidate,” he added.

The Election Commission (EC) is observing the Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporation elections today (June 21, 2023) from the EC auditorium in Dhaka. A temporary control room has been set up to monitor the elections in the two cities. Election Commissioners Brigadier General Md Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir and Rasheda Sultana have been observing the overall situation since 6 am this morning. Ensure next general election becomes free and fair: President Shahabuddin urges EC They are monitoring the polls situation through 23 digital display boards, and 368 CCTV cameras in 2,520 voting rooms. Voting in 345 polling centers is being monitored through the display boards with autorotation after every 10 seconds. No untoward incident has been reported from the polling stations till the filing of this report at 10 am. Voting in the elections to Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations is underway today. Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break. Sylhet City Corporation election: 132 out of 190 centers marked as risky In Sylhet, a total of 4,86,605 voters will exercise their franchise in the polls while 3,51,982 people including 30,157 new voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the Rajshahi city polls. Eight mayoral candidates, including Awami League-backed Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, are contesting the polls in Sylhet while four mayoral contenders, including Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, are contesting in Rajshahi. City corporation polls: Voting underway in Rajshahi, Sylhet

At least 2600 law enforcers have been deployed for the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) election to ensure foolproof security, scheduled for June 21. Besides, 14 judicial magistrates and 42 executive magistrates in 42 wards will perform their duties on election day to take instant action in case of violence, said Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Elias Sharif while speaking at a press briefing at Sylhet Metropolitan Police Lines. Movements of vehicles will be suspended on that day. To ensure security on election day, one police inspector, one sub-inspector, and five members of the police will remain at vulnerable polling stations while one inspector, one sub-inspector, four police members, and 14 Ansar members will perform duty at the rest of the polling stations with others. EC to monitor SCC polls through CCTV: CEC Forty-two mobile teams will be deployed in each general ward, 24 striking teams in three general wards each, and six reserve striking teams will be available at each thana. Alongside, RAB team, consisting of 22 members, and one platoon of BGB will be patrolling the wards. The Sylhet police commissioner also urged voters to cast their votes without any fear. SCC polls: 3 held over arms showdown before competitor’s house Eight mayoral candidates, including Awami League-backed Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury and Jatiya Party-backed Nazrul Islam Babu, are vying for the post. Besides, 272 candidates are contesting for 42 general councillor posts, and 87 are contesting for 14 reserved female seats. This year, a total of 4,86,605 voters will exercise their franchise at the polls. There are 190 polling stations and 1,364 polling booths. Besides, 132 centres out of 190 are deemed "vulnerable". The movement of motorbikes remains off the road from June 19 midnight until June 22 midnight. Movement of trucks, minibuses, buses, microbuses, private cars and easy-bikes will remain off from June 20 midnight until June 21 midnight for the Sylhet city election.