Awami League’s Ivy ‘ready for people’s verdict’ in N’ganj polls

The ruling party’s mayor candidate hoped there would be a peaceful environment throughout voting on Thursday.

She voted at a centre in Deobhog’s Shishubagh School around 9am. Voting started at the river port city at 8am and is set to continue until 4pm.

“This is just the morning. I hope the environment we are witnessing now would remain throughout the entire time. A calm environment during campaigns by rival candidates is a rarity in Narayanganj.”

"I will hail the people's verdict," promised the outgoing mayor.

The first election to Narayanganj City Corporation held in 2011 was non-partisan where Ivy defeated her contender Shamim Osman by 100,000 votes.

She hopes to secure more votes this time.

Asked whether she was nervous, Ivy, who is contesting on the Awami League symbol 'boat,' told reporters: "As a candidate it is normal to feel anxious."

She asked the election authorities to ensure safe environment for peaceful voting throughout the day.

BNP's mayoral candidate Sakhawat Hossain Khan cast his ballot at Adarsha High School and College around 8:30 in the morning and said that he would accept the 'results of a fair poll."

Besides Ivy and Sakhawat, Mahbubur Rahman Ismail from Biplobi Workers Party, Mufti Ezharul Haque from Islami Oikya Jote and Mufti Masum Billah from Islami Andolan are contesting for the post of Narayanganj mayor.

Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Kamal Pradhan and Kalyan Party's Rashed Ferdous have declared their support for the BNP candidate although ballot papers include their names.