Khulna
AL-backed mayor candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque wins Khulna City polls
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
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.
Khulna city polls: Jatiya Party's mayor candidate says agents barred from entering polling stations
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).
Khulna, Barishal city polls: Voting begins amid much enthusiasm, long queues of voters
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
EC ready to hold Khulna city polls tomorrow, BGB deployed
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
No let-up in safe drinking water scarcity in Khulna’s Dacop
Over 2 lakh residents of salinity-hit Khulna’s Dacop upazila have been grappling with a severe shortage of safe drinking water since the onset of the dry season.
Long queues have become a common sight at shops selling purified open water, while some people are resorting to collecting water from distant sources.
The dire situation has forced some residents to consume water from ditches and drains, leading to an outbreak of various waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea.
Also Read: Many embankments turn vulnerable in Khulna’s Koyra; Fear grips residents
Dakop, which borders the Sundarbans, consists of three separate islands. Due to the high salinity levels in the surrounding rivers, the region experiences an extreme scarcity of fresh water during the dry season, said locals.
This year, as in previous years, the municipality and nine unions are grappling with an acute shortage of safe drinking water.
Visiting different areas in the upazila, the UNB correspondent found the scarcity of clean water has even affected the functioning of tea shops, restaurants, and sweet shops, frustrating shopkeepers who are unable to provide clean water to their customers.
Also Read: Walking the extra mile for water in coastal Khulna
The agricultural sector has also been severely affected , particularly in the current ‘Robi’ season when Boro paddy and watermelon farmers experiencing substantial losses due to the inability to irrigate their fields.
Most of the shallow tube wells have been lying inoperative and many tubewells contain salt, arsenic, and excessive iron content, exacerbating the water quality issues, said locals.
Furthermore, the region experiences insufficient rainfall, further limiting water availability.
Read more: Short Films on Water: Dhaka DocLab, British Council to screen four climate documentaries
Consequently, filtering water from ponds has become the only viable option for the locals. However, the scarcity of water in the inadequate ponds renders most filters or pond sand filters (PSFs) ineffective.
Wealthy individuals in the Batiaghata area of Khulna are able to purchase water from different locations, while middle-class and low-income residents are left with no choice but to consume water directly from the pond.
Consequently, the scarcity of clean drinking water has compelled this large population to rely on unhealthy food and water, resulting in a surge of waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea.
Read more: Coca-Cola Foundation, WaterAid working to enhance water security in Bangladesh
Nimai Mandal, a UP member from Ward No. 9 in the Kalabagi area, along with many others, explained that they have to endure great difficulties in collecting fresh water from the neighboring Kailashganj area, a journey of approximately 4 to 5 kilometers by boat.
Meanwhile, those who have the means and resources, purchase water from outside the region.
Nimai Mandal highlighted that some vulnerable individuals in the area resort to directly consuming impure water from the pond.
Samaresh Mandal, a hotelier in Chalan Bazar, expressed his predicament, saying, “Due to the water shortage, I am unable to provide water to customers. As the water from the pond is unhealthy for consumption, we are forced to use it for washing plates."
Read more: Water crisis hits Boro cultivation in Feni ‘s Sonagazi
Similar concerns were echoed by Milan Mallick, a tea shop owner.
In response to the crisis, Mehdi Hasan Bulbul, Panel Mayor of the Chalan Municipality, said that a water purification plant has been completed in the municipality under a water project aimed at resolving the drinking water crisis.
Additionally, house-to-house pipeline works are underway in various areas of the municipality.
Bulbul thinks that once these projects are completed, the shortage of fresh water in the municipality area will be significantly alleviated.
Abdullah Al Mahmud, Sub-Assistant Public Health Engineer of Dakop Upazila, said there are ongoing projects.
Read more: Dhaka calls for enhanced int'l financing for sustainable water management
However, he also said that these efforts are inadequate against the region's requirements.
To meet the growing demand for water, the engineer suggested individually and institutionally digging ponds and ‘dighis’ during the critical period.
Expanding the number of rainwater harvesting tanks and ponds in the region is deemed essential to mitigate the water crisis, he added.
Munsur Ali Khan, Chairman of Dakop Upazila Parishad, said the Upazila Parishad has initiated a project to distribute water tanks among underprivileged families.
Measures are being taken to excavate ponds and canals as alternative water sources, he said.
Read more: How to Build Dhaka as a Water Wise City
Mild heat wave may sweep Dhaka, 3 other divisions: BMD
Mild heat wave may sweep parts of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions in 24 hours from 9am on Monday (May 29, 2023), said Bangladesh Metrological Department .
Besides, weather may remain mainly dry over the country, having chances of rain or thunder showers at one or two places in Khulna division.
Read more: Dhaka air once again world’s most polluted this morning
Day temperature may rise by (1-2)°C and night temperature may rise slightly over the country, said a bulletin of BMD.
The country’s highest temperature 36.6 degree Celsius was recorded in Barishal’s Khpupara on Sunday while the lowest temperature was recorded on Monday at 22.0 degrees Celsius in Tetulia.
Read more: Heat wave in Asia made 30 times more likely because of climate change, scientists say
Rain, thundershowers likely in Dhaka, 5 other divisions
Dhaka and five other divisions may experience rain or thundershowers in 24 hours from 9 am on Wednesday (May 24, 2023).
Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions with hails at isolated places over the country, said a bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Also Read: Despite rain, Dhaka's air quality 'unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning
A mild heat wave is sweeping over Khulna division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, and Madaripur and it may abate from some places, it read. Day and Night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Wind direction and speed at Dhaka were recorded as 10-15 kph East/southeasterly, with temporary gusting to 30-40 kph.
The country’s highest temperature was recorded at 36.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday in Khulna and the lowest temperature was recorded in Tetulia at 20.2 degrees Celsius.
Read more: Govt issues precautionary measures to avoid lightning strikes
409 shelters prepared in Khulna as depression intensifies into Cyclone Mocha
Local administration has kept 409 cyclone centres prepared for sheltering 2,73,850 people as a deep depression over the Bay turned into Cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’and it is likely to cross Bangladesh on May 14.
Khandaker Yeasir Arefin, deputy commissioner of Khulna, said the government has opened 409 cyclone shelters in the district so that people can take shelter if needed.
He said a meeting of the disaster management committee will be held at 3:30 pm today (May 11, 2023).
Abdul Karim, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said the upazila level officials were asked to remain in their respective workplaces and take precautionary measures.
Read More: Cyclone Mocha: 446 cyclone shelters ready as panic grips Bagerhat’s coastal areas
They were also asked to take steps to inform people about the danger signal through loudspeakers.
Amirul Azad, in-charge of Khulna Weather Observatory Centre, said due to the impact of cyclone ‘Mocha’ heavy rains accompanied by gusty wind may lash the district on May 13.
However, unless the direction is changed, there is no possibility of the cyclone hitting the Khulna coast, he said.
Regarding cyclone preparations, state minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman on Wednesday said , "We are acting in accordance with the SOD (Standing Orders on Disasters). I have communicated with field personnel. The forecast indicates that Cox's Bazaar is the most vulnerable. Most at risk are the low-lying areas of St. Martin Island and Teknaf.”
Read More: Cyclone Mocha looms over Bay: DAE asks farmers to harvest paddy, other crops early
Enamur Rahman said the authorities will start moving people to cyclone shelters if the cyclone danger signal reaches 5, 6 or 7.
The state minister said the army, the navy and the coastguard are also ready.
"We hope to bring down the loss of life and property to zero (if it strikes)," he said.
Mild heat wave sweeps Dhaka, some other parts of country; May spread further
Mild heat wave is sweeping over Khulna, Rajshahi divisions and Dhaka, Madaripur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Moulvibazar, Chandpur, Feni and Patuakhali districts and it may spread, according to Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD).
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country having chances rain or thunder showers at one or two places over Sylhet division, said a BMD bulletin.
Besides, day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country.
A low pressure area is likely to be formed over Southeast Bay, it added.