The elections to Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation will be held on Jan 30, the Election Commission announced on Sunday (Dec 22).
During a press briefing at Bangladesh Election Commission office, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) K M Nurul Huda said electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the polls instead of traditional ballot boxes.
Army will not be deployed in the polls, he added.
Four other election commissioners -- Mahbub Talukdar, Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury -- were also present at the press briefing, local media reported.
The last date for submitting nomination papers is Dec 31 and the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is Jan 9. The Election Commission will scrutinise nomination papers on Jan 2.
CEC K M Nurul Huda, in the press briefing, also requested the voters to turn up to the polling centres. “We will ensure security so that you can return home safely after casting your votes,” he said.
Responding to a question, he said there was no scope of thinking that the Election Commission works for any particular political party. “The elections will be competitive and open for all,” he assured.
The CEC also said that the incumbent mayors of the city corporations would have to resign from their posts for taking part in the upcoming polls.
Along with electing the mayors, DNCC voters will also elect 54 ward councillors and 18 reserved women councillors while DSCC voters will elect 75 ward councillors and 25 reserved women councillors.
Meanwhile, a statement of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League read that the party would sell nomination forms to aspirants for mayoral positions from Dec 25 to Dec 27. The forms will be available at the Awami League president’s Dhanmondi office.
On the other hand, the BNP is likely to participate in the polls, reports said citing the party leaders.
