Voting ends in Narayanganj city polls

The Narayanganj City Corporation polls have ended, but those in queue can still vote.

Voters began exercising their franchise in all 174 centres in the river port city at 8am. Polling centres stopped accepting new voters in the queue at 4pm.

The results will be released from the Narayanganj Returning Officer’s Control Room once the results from all polling centres are collected.

Around 30 percent of the electorate turned out in the first four hours of polling.

Election officials say the turnout is expected to cross 60 percent by the time polls end.

Election Commission secretary Mohammed Abdullah told bdnews24.com: "From what I have gathered, the turnout is encouraging. Not just the mayor candidates but also those contesting for councillor positions have been active. I feel the turnout will cross the 60 percent mark."

He recalled the 69.92 percent turnout in the 2011 Narayanganj city polls which was conducted on non-party lines.

"This time, the poll is held in a festive atmosphere. There is no report of untoward incident so far. Polling has been peaceful in all centres."

Four hours in, candidates of all parties have also expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the polls.

This is the first time the Narayanganj city polls have been contested along party lines.

The polls at a glance

>> Number of voters: 474,931

>> Voting from 8am to 4pm

>> Seven mayor candidates; 156 aspirants for 27 councillor posts; 38 running for 9 women's reserved councillor posts

>> 1,424,793 ballot papers printed

>> 4,000 election officials

>> 9,500 personnel from different security forces deployed

Agents of rival candidates were present in the polling centres and there were no reports of voting interruptions.

Election officials said the turnout was somewhat low earlier in the day, but began to pick up as the day progressed.

Though seven candidates are in the fray for the Mayor's position, the frontrunners are outgoing Mayor and Awami League candidate Selina Hayat Ivy and BNP's Shakhawat Hossain Khan.

Khan, a lawyer by profession, has been representing the victims of the infamous local multiple murder case.

While Ivy’s campaign promised ' continuity of development' relying on her track record, while Khan hoped voters would take up his calls for a ‘change of face’ anti-incumbency vote and promised to take development to a 'new height'.

Awami League leaders say Ivy's victory will be seen as an endorsement for the government’s track record.

BNP leaders are hoping for a popular backlash against what they describe as the 'many failures' of the Awami League, to give them victory.

BNP leaders have ruled out a poll boycott, like last time, and said they will fight to the very end, come what may.

But they had also asked for the deployment of the army to ensure fair polls – a request refused by the Election Commission.

However, a large posse of BGB, RAB, armed police and other forces have been deployed to ensure a peaceful and fair vote.

Both the Ivy and Sakhawat campaigns have expressed satisfaction with Thursday's polls and have said that they will accept the verdict of the people.