The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Four city corporations and nine pourasabhas are set to hold elections tomorrow with voters exercising their rights to vote using ID cards for the first time in the country.

All preparations, including stringent security measures have already been taken by the authorities concerned to hold the elections to Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet city corporations and Naohata, Dupchachia, Chuadanga, Sreepur, Manikganj, Fulbaria, Shariatpur, Golapganj and Sitakunda pourasabhas.

The elections are being held under the present caretaker government before the general elections slated for third week of December.

The government has already declared Monday as holiday in the city corporations and pourasabhas concerned so that voters can cast their votes easily.

Some 20,000 law-enforcers would be on duty to maintain law and order during the elections. No BDR or Army personnel would be deployed during the voting, but they would be available, if necessary, on demand.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain yesterday told reporters that a three-tier security measure has been taken in and around the polling centres to ensure peaceful voting in all city and pourasabha areas.

He urged the voters to exercise their franchise without fear or favour.

"Apply your good senses, conscience and vote for your chosen candidates without fear or favour," he urged.

He also urged the candidates to hold peace, exercise patience and accept the results in good grace. The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a control room to monitor law and order during the polls.

The control room will start functioning from 6:00am today and remain open till 8:00pm on Tuesday.

The control room would swing into action on information of disturbances from any polling area, Ministry sources said. People have been asked to contact the control room over telephone on the following numbers -9571686 and fax 9571682, if necessary.

Out of 579 centres in four city corporations, some 218 polling centres have been identified as vulnerable. There are 65 vulnerable polling centres among 136 in nine pourasabhas.

Mobile courts will function in and around polling centres to deal with offenders.

Our correspondents in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet reported that all the candidates are spending busy time to walk door to door to seek votes in their favour as hectic election campaigns came to end at midnight last night.

Our Rajshahi Correspondent Shamsun Nahar

said among the mayoral candidates AHM Khairuzzaman Liton of AL, Rezaunnabi Dudu and Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul of BNP are the top favourites.

A total of 15 candidates are vying for the mayoral post, while 203 competing for 30 general councillors' posts and 63 women are competing for 10 reserved councillor posts.

AL leaders Tofail Ahmed and Matiya Chowdhury, among others, are now in Rajshahi to extend their support to the AL-backed candidate.

Our Khulna Correspondent Nasima Muneer reports that the candidates of Khulna City Corporation elections continued all out campaign till last night.

The candidates of Awami League led 14-party alliance Talukder Abdul Khaleque and BNP-Jamaat led 4-party alliance acting Mayor Moniruzzaman Moni will have neck-to-neck fight, it is presumed.

According to election office total 3,99,398 voters including 1,94,902 female voters were enlisted in the last voter list

Commander RAB-6, Lt Col Mefta Ul Karim told The New Nation that sufficient number of RAB personnel will be on patrol on the election day which will continue till August 7.

Our Barisal Correspondent Tapan Chakrabarty reports that more than four thousand and two hundred personnel drawn from different law enforcing agencies would be deployed in Barisal city on the election day.

This was disclosed by Khan Said Hasan, Metropolitan Police Commissioner of Barisal at a press briefing on Saturday at the conference room of DC traffic, Barisal.

Sylhet Correspondent Basir Uddin reports that the city took a festive mood on the eve of the city corporation elections.

On the last of election campaign, BNP and Awami League backed Mayor candidates held two separate public meetings, which turned, into huge showdown.

On behalf of Awami League led 14-party candidate and incumbent Mayor Badruddin Kamran, now in jail on a corruption case, a meeting was held at Registrar Ground in the city.

AL central leaders Suranjit Sengupta and Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, among others, addressed, the meeting.

His wife Asma Kamran and his son Arman Ahmed Shiblu were campaigning in the absence of Kamran.

BNP and Jamaat-backed Mayor candidate MA Haque held a public meeting at Dhopa Dighirpar in the city in the afternoon. Local BNP leaders addressed, the meeting.

A total of 15 candidates are fighting for 1 mayoral post while the number of general counsellor candidates are 197 and reserved councillor candidates are 46.

Meanwhile, police arrested Aftab Hossain, a councillor candidate of Ward No. 7 and 37 supporters from different wards for violation of the code of election conduct.