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).

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said the people have no interest in the city polls being held under the Election Commission which is regulated by the government. Speaking at a discussion programme, he also feared that the upcoming elections to the five city corporations will be stage-managed even though BNP is not fielding any candidate. Also Read: Sheikh Hasina's resignation is the only demand: Mirza Fakhrul “They (govt) have completely destroyed the election system by using the state machinery. The Election Commission is under the control of the government. People are not interested in the election taking place in the country,” the BNP leader said. He said opposition parties are not fielding candidates in most of the city corporation elections due to the “collapsed’ election system. ”Arif (Ariful Haque Chowdhury) is a very popular two-time mayor in Sylhet and the people of Sylhet want him to see as mayor again. In a public meeting, Arif yesterday (Saturday) said this election will never be accepted as the government has made a blueprint. So, there is no point in going to this election as it will be meaningless,” Fakhrul said. Also Read: 'Your time is up': Fakhrul to govt  He said the people of Sylhet City shed tears as their beloved leader decided against participating in the election.  “He (Arif) clearly said this election will be meaningless and no election will be fair under this government.” A faction of the Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the party founder Shafiul Alam Pradhan’s sixth death anniversary. Fakhrul said all the authoritarian and fascistic regimes destroy the election system and use the stage-managed voting a tool to hang onto power. “So, We would like to say it very clearly that there will be no free and fair elections if the current government remains in power…the election must be held under an impartial caretaker government,” he said. Also Read: Fakhrul warns govt of 'political storm' if caretaker demand remains unmet  Fakhrul said the government has taken the election system to such a situation that ruling the party’s alliance partner and Workers Party President, Rashed Khan Menon, said a few days back that they do not want ‘planned’ elections. “The message is very clear that Awami League holds planned elections and he (Menon) does not want such polls. Another state minister said that the ministers create syndicates here and they increase the prices of commodities,” the BNP leader observed. Also Read: EC doesn’t have capacity to hold fair elections: Fakhrul Referring to a World Bank report, he said Bangladesh is the champion of default loans. “Bangladesh has even surpassed Sri Lanka in this regard.” The BNP leader said the number of loan defaulters is increasing in the country as the ruling party leaders, including the ministers, do not repay after borrowing crores of taka. Fakhrul also warned the BNP rank and file not to be confused by different ‘evil games’ by the government ahead of the national election. “We must remain united to free our leader Begum Khaleda Zia, ensure the return of our leader Tarique Rahman to the country, restore democracy, people’s voting rights and establish equality…the movement has already begun. We all have to take to the streets with all strengths to take it a final stage for establishing a caretaker government ousting the current regime,” he said.    

Dismissing all speculations about the party’s subtle strategy to take part in city polls, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday categorically said their party is not joining the upcoming elections to five city corporations in any way. “We have made it very clear that we are not going for any kind of local government elections. Especially in the city corporation polls, our party won’t vie for any post of mayor or commissioner." He made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman together with the leaders of the newly formed Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal committee. Fakhrul said Awami League wants to establish a one-party Baksal rule by destroying democracy as the party does not believe in elections and democracy. Also Read: Fakhrul sees 'sadness, suffering' overshadowing Eid celebrations He alleged that the ruling party made the national election in 2014 a complete farce by depriving people of their right to franchise. “Similarly, in 2018, they usurped power by stuffing ballots the night before the election day and people didn't participate in that polls either," the BNP leader observed. Even, he said people are not participating in the local government elections under the current government. “Only 14% of people went to vote in the recent by-polls polls (in Chattogram). So people understand and the entire world understands that there will never be any fair election if this regime stays in power.” Also Read: Convicting , jailing popular BNP leaders before next polls is government’s master plan : Fakhrul The BNP leader said people will also not participate in the next national election if it is held under the Awami League government. He said the Prime Minister is talking about fair elections after going abroad to mislead people and repair her government’s dented image. "But the country’s people have now woken up. We believe that the people will defeat this regime through a fierce movement and establish a truly democratic system in the country,” Fakhrul said. Earlier on April 20 last, BNP announced a full-fledged 213-member committee of the party’s voluntary wing Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal SM Zilani and Rajib Ahsan were made the president and the general secretary respectively of the committee.      

Voters of Chattogram will cast their ballots on January 27 to elect a new municipal government for the country's second-most important city.

Election to any city corporation will have to be held within three months instead of the existing six months before the expiry of its tenure, according to the draft of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

BNP’s Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) candidate Tabith Awal’s main polls agent Moazzem Hossain Alal came under a bomb attack in Monipur on Saturday morning.

Awami League’s mayoral candidates for Dhaka north and south city corporations have expressed optimism about victory while BNP’s aspirants alleged that their agents were obstructed from entering some polling stations.

BNP on Tuesday sent a letter to the Election Commission (EC) urging it to refrain from using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming elections to Dhaka north and south city corporations.

This year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will now begin on February 3 instead of February 1.

The Election Commission is likely to change the date of elections to two Dhaka city corporations as it sat in an emergency meeting on Saturday afternoon.