Staff Reporter :
Cumilla City Corporation (CuCC) election will be held today amid joys and tensions.
On the occasion, the election commission has completed all its preparations. The electoral equipment including electronic voting machines (EVM) are being sent to the polling centers from the Shaheed Abu Zahid Auditorium of Cumilla Zila School yesterday.
A total of 2,29,920 voters will exercise their franchise through EVM in 105 centers from 8am. There have been installed 640 booths in 105 polling stations, Returning Officer of the CuCC elections Md. Shahedunnabi Chowdhury told the media.
Five candidates are contesting, including independent candidate Md Monirul Haque Sakku with ‘Table Clock’ symbol and Awami League’s (AL) ‘Boat’ candidate Arfanul Haque Rifat, for the mayor post in the election.
Both Rifat and Sakku claimed that they would bag the victory.
If Monirul wins then it will be third consecutive victory for him, but if Arfanul Haque Rifat wins give first taste of mayor ship of any AL candidate.
Independent candidate Monirul Haque has never been defeated in any elections he contested, while AL candidate Arfanul is contesting the election for the first time. It is the first election for Mohammad Nizam Uddin, another independent candidate with ‘horse’ symbol. During the electioneering campaign, former Comilla City Corporation Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku, who is in the battle as an independent candidate, alleged that AKM Bahauddin Bahar MP forced people to campaign in support of the ruling Awami League candidate.
Meanwhile, AL candidate Arfanul Haque Rifat claimed that his rival Sakku is involved in purchasing votes.
Md. Shahedunnabi Chowdhury further said we’ve completed all the preparations for a free, fair and peaceful election. Necessary election equipment is being sent to each center. Voters will come to the polling center without any hesitation. Each center has adequate security measures including CCTV cameras. So, we hope to hold the election free, fair and peaceful with the cooperation of all.
Superintendent of Police Farooq Ahmed said that all necessary steps have been taken by the law enforcement agencies to strengthen the security during the elections.
“Checkpoints have been set up in at least 75 places in the city. Twenty-Seven magistrates are working in 27 wards, and 3,608 members of the law enforcement agencies are working in the polling stations from today,” the police official added.
Mentionable, voting will be held through electronic voting machine (EVM) in all the centers.
