Big cities going to election as fear of violence looms

Six million people in Dhaka and Chittagong are waiting to cast their votes in the city corporation elections amid fear of major violence even as the Election Commission promises foolproof security.

The local government polls have pitted the two political majors – Awami League and BNP – against each other again.

Altogether 75,000 members of several law-enforcing agencies are ready to ensure safety of the voters and law and order in Dhaka South, Dhaka North and Chittagong city corporations.

But the fear of chaos were real as early as the night before vote. Trouble broke out in a Dhaka North voting centre where ruling Awami League-backed candidate’s supporters were allegedly stuffing ballot boxes.

The polling at the three city corporations are scheduled to begin at 8am on Tuesday and will continue until 4pm.

It will be public holiday in the two major cities of the country.

The counting of votes will begin right after the daylong vote.

Pro-BNP ‘Adarsha Dhaka Andolan’ in a statement Monday night alleged that the ruling party supporters were snatching ballot papers and forcing the presiding officers to sign papers.

The statement, signed by Prof Emajuddin Ahamed and Shawkat Mahmud, claimed such incidents took place at the voting centres in Dhaka University, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur and Segunbaghicha areas.

On the other hand, Awami League leader and Industries Minister Amir Hossain alleged the BNP was trying to create instability.

He said the government was not doing anything to interfere in the election.

The civic polls in Bangladesh are officially non-partisan, according to the electoral code of conduct.

But political parties generally control everything from choosing and endorsing candidates for the mayor and councillor posts.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and ICT Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy, citing Awami League’s pre-polls data, has said candidates backed by the party are poised to a win at the three city corporations.

The BNP, which came into the fray after easing its anti-government movement, is also hopeful of the victory of the mayor aspirants it is supporting.

The party, however, warned the government of fresh agitations if the elections are not held in a free and fair manner.

The Election Commission on Monday finished their preparations after sending the polling materials to the centres in the three city corporations.

Despite numerous complaints from the BNP, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmad while speaking with journalists Monday claimed the EC was working impartially.

He also assured the voters of a safe environment and urged them to cast their vote as they see fit.

EC Secretary Md Sirajul Islam and the three returning officers also promised a festive mood on Tuesday.

Contenders

In the three city corporations, altogether 48 people are fighting for the mayor posts and nearly 1,200 candidates are vying for the general councillor and reserved councillor posts.

Sixteen people are contending for the office of the mayor of Dhaka North in its first election after the DCC’s bifurcation in November 2011.

There, 281 are contesting for general councillor posts in 36 wards, while 89 are running for 12 wards reserved for women councillors.

Twenty others are in the fray for the mayoral post of Dhaka South.

Total 390 are contesting for general councillor posts in 57 wards here, while 97 are contending for 19 wards reserved for women councillors.

In Chittagong, 12 candidates are contesting for the mayor’s office while 217 are battling it out for general councillor posts in 41 wards and 62 are vying for 14 wards reserved for women councillors.

A total of 1,870,753 voters in Dhaka South, 2,345,374 in Dhaka North and 1,813,449 in Chittagong are expected to vote on Tuesday to elect mayors and councillors.

Law and order

In total, 75,000 members of police, RAB, BGB and Ansar and VDP are on election duty from Apr 26 to Apr 29.

Around 5,000 executive and judicial magistrates are leading the mobile and striking forces in the three city corporations.

More than 50,000 election officials have been deputed to ensure a fair balloting.

Twenty-two security officers will be deputed at the voting centres marked normal while each ‘risky’ centre will have 24 officials.

EC officials said use of mobile phones inside the polling centres is prohibited.

There are 1,093 centres in Dhaka North, 889 in Dhaka South and 719 centres in Chittagong City.

The EC and law-enforcing agencies have promised a fair environment for the voting, but many candidates have expressed concern over possible trouble and irregularities.

The candidates finished their campaigns by Sunday midnight.

The EC has banned movement of vehicles not authorised by it during the elections. There is also a ban in effect against carrying licensed arms.