RAJSHAHI: Election related posters, banners and festoons of possible candidates for the upcoming election to the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) were removed on Thursday, reports BSS. The posters and banners were seen removing in different parts of the city by workers of the candidates concerned side by side with labourers and employees of the RCC throughout the day.

After announcement of the election schedule by Election Commission (EC), the local election office issued notice on June 13 last requesting the persons concerned to remove their posters, banners and other open campaign related materials by midnight of June 20.

Shah Momin, chief executive officer of RCC, says the city corporation workers conducted a drive removing all the unauthorized posters, banners, festoons and gates throughout the day as per directives of the EC.

“We are respectful to the electoral laws and have removed our posters and banners within the stipulated time set by the EC,” said Dablu Sarker, city unit general secretary of Awami League.

Meanwhile, a total of 187 candidates collected nomination papers from the district election office here for contesting the forthcoming RCC election till Thursday afternoon.

Of them, 140 for general councilor posts and 47 for reserved seats for women. However, none was seen collecting nomination papers for the mayoral post during the time.

District Election Officer Atiar Rahman said the election schedule has been announced formally on June 13 last and they started distributing nomination papers from the following day.

The office remains open for distributing and receiving nomination papers everyday including the weekly holidays from 9 am to 5 pm. He said the candidates can submit their nomination papers to both the returning officer and assistant returning officer till June 28.

Returning Officer will scrutinize the nomination papers on July 1 and 2.

July 9 has been set as the final date of withdrawal of candidature and election symbol will be distributed among the candidates the following day.

Atiar Rahman said all sorts of preparations were taken for holding the election scheduled to be held on July 30. After getting election symbol the candidates can start their formal election campaign.

He said the city corporation has 3,18,138 voters including 1,62,053 females to exercise their right of franchise at 137 centres to elect one mayor, 30 ward councilors and 10 councilors in reserved seats for women in the upcoming RCC election.