The elections to two Dhaka city elections, held on Saturday fully with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), drew mixed reactions from voters, candidates and the authorities concerned.

Everything is set to hold elections to Dhaka north and south city corporations with the participation of candidates from the two major political camps – Awami league and BNP – on Saturday.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Friday urged voters to exercise their franchise in Saturday’s Dhaka city election, which he hoped will be “competitive, free, fair and neutral”.

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will cast her vote in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) polls at Dhaka City College centre Saturday morning.

The government has asked foreign missions in Bangladesh not to include their local Bangladeshi employees in observer teams for Saturday’s Dhaka city elections.

Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy sees landslide victories for Awami League in the elections to the two city corporations scheduled to be held on Saturday (Feb 1) as he quotes an opinion poll.

Diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Thursday expressed their hope to see democracy in action in polling centres across the city on February 1. 

Awami League mayoral candidate for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) election Atiqul Islam on Wednesday urged voters to go to polling centres on Saturday to cast their votes.

Stating that voters are all set to ensure the victory of ‘Sheaf of Paddy’, BNP’s Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral candidate Tabith Awal has urged the Election Commission to ensure a fair voting atmosphere on February 1.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday alleged that it is the Awami League, not BNP, which has hired about 30 lakh its ‘armed activists’ from outside the capital ahead of the elections to two Dhaka City corporations.