Municipal polls

Fresh voting at 51 centres �January 12

The Election Commission (EC) will hold reelection at 51 centres across 20 municipalities on January 12. Election at these centres were suspended due to irregularities and violence triggered on polling day, December 30.
EC Secretary Md Sirajul Islam confirmed the news and said, “A file has been approved at the commission’s meeting in this regard. The Returning Officers will be directed today to make necessary preparations in this regard.” Sirajul said re-elections will be held for seven mayoral posts and 72 councilor posts both general and reserve.
The 51 centres where re-election will be held include three centres of Thakurgaon municipality, four centres of Syedpur municipality,
two centres of Ulipur municipality, one centre of Jessore municipality, one centre of Kalia municipality, one centre of Betagi municipality, one centre of Barguna municipality, one centre of Kuakata municipality, one centre of Sharishabari municipality, three centres of Jamalpur municipality, one centre of Bhaluka municipality, 12 centres of Madhabdi municipality, one centre of Narsingdi municipality, one centre of Nagarkanda municipality, two centres of Kalkini municipality, one centre of Shariatpur municipality, one centre of Barura municipality, one centre of Matlab municipality, 10 centres of Chowmuhoni municipality, and three centres of Chandaish municipality.

Campaigning by candidates will have to be stopped 48 hours before holding reelection.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told The Independent, “There is no bar on campaigning after announcement of re-election. It is normal procedure but campaigning will have to be stopped 48 hours before holding polls.”
Of the 234 municipalities that went to polls on December 30, EC suspended voting at 12 centres of Narsingdi municipality and 39 centres across 19 other municipalities owing to irregularities. A total of 214 mayoral candidates were elected on December 30. Of these, ruling Awami League (AL) backed mayoral candidates got 168 seats, BNP backed candidates 19, Jatiya Party backed candidates one, and independent candidates 26 seats.
Meanwhile, EC has completed all necessary preparations to hold elections of Singair municipality in Manikganj district today. A total of 20,014 voters will cast votes for six mayoral posts, seven councilor (general) posts and 14 councilor (reserve) posts. Law enforcement authorities including police, BGB and RAB have been deployed to maintain law and order before, during and after the polls. Singair municipality elections were put on hold for six months vide a High Court order in the wake of allegations of irregularities. EC postponed the election but later the Supreme Court stayed the HC order until January 21, saying there is no bar on holding polls.

Municipal polls

Fresh voting at 51 centres �January 12

The Election Commission (EC) will hold reelection at 51 centres across 20 municipalities on January 12. Election at these centres were suspended due to irregularities and violence triggered on polling day, December 30. EC Secretary Md Sirajul Islam confirmed the news and said, A file has been approved at the commissions meeting in this regard. The Returning Officers will be directed today to make necessary preparations in this regard. Sirajul said re-elections will be held for seven mayoral posts and 72 councilor posts both general and reserve. The 51 centres where re-election will be held include three centres of Thakurgaon municipality, four centres of Syedpur municipality, two centres of Ulipur municipality, one centre of Jessore municipality, one centre of Kalia municipality, one centre of Betagi municipality, one centre of Barguna municipality, one centre of Kuakata municipality, one centre of Sharishabari municipality, three centres of Jamalpur municipality, one centre of Bhaluka municipality, 12 centres of Madhabdi municipality, one centre of Narsingdi municipality, one centre of Nagarkanda municipality, two centres of Kalkini municipality, one centre of Shariatpur municipality, one centre of Barura municipality, one centre of Matlab municipality, 10 centres of Chowmuhoni municipality, and three centres of Chandaish municipality. Campaigning by candidates will have to be stopped 48 hours before holding reelection. Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told The Independent, There is no bar on campaigning after announcement of re-election. It is normal procedure but campaigning will have to be stopped 48 hours before holding polls. Of the 234 municipalities that went to polls on December 30, EC suspended voting at 12 centres of Narsingdi municipality and 39 centres across 19 other municipalities owing to irregularities. A total of 214 mayoral candidates were elected on December 30. Of these, ruling Awami League (AL) backed mayoral candidates got 168 seats, BNP backed candidates 19, Jatiya Party backed candidates one, and independent candidates 26 seats. Meanwhile, EC has completed all necessary preparations to hold elections of Singair municipality in Manikganj district today. A total of 20,014 voters will cast votes for six mayoral posts, seven councilor (general) posts and 14 councilor (reserve) posts. Law enforcement authorities including police, BGB and RAB have been deployed to maintain law and order before, during and after the polls. Singair municipality elections were put on hold for six months vide a High Court order in the wake of allegations of irregularities. EC postponed the election but later the Supreme Court stayed the HC order until January 21, saying there is no bar on holding polls.