The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls-2023 will be held on Monday amid tight security measures in a festive mode as the authorities concerned have completed all necessary preparations in this regard.
The Elections will be held at 1,732 polling booths in 289 polling centres using around 3,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm .
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Administration in a notification declared a public holiday on Monday in the electoral area of KCC as sought by the Election Commission to enable every voter to cast their votes.
In the KCC polls, this year, five candidates, who are vying for mayoral post, are- AL backed Talukder Abdul Khaleque (Boat), Jatiya Party's Shafiqul Islam Modhu (Plough), Bangladesh Islami Andolon's Moulana Abdul Awal (Hand Fan), Zaker Party's S M Sabbir Hossain (Rose) and independent candidate Shafiqur Rahman Mushfiq (Table clock).
A total of 173 candidates, including five for mayoral, 134 for 31 general councilors' and 39 for 10 reserved female councilors' posts, are contesting in the KCC polls and their hectic last moment electioneering ended last night.
Meanwhile, the Returning Officer (RO) of KCC polls Md Alauddin and Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Masudur Rahman Bhuiyan at a press briefing on Sunday informed the journalists that three-tier security measures have been taken for holding a the KCC polls peacefully amid complete security blanket.
Masudur Rahman said, around 8,300 members of the law enforcement agencies including 4,520 police men, 300 APBN, 3468 Ansers have been deployed in the city today.
Fifteen striking forces including 8 reserve force and five standby forces consist of 55 in each team, 62 mobile petrol teams of KMP have also been deployed for holding the KCC polls peacefully amid tight security blankets.
Besides, at least 11 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the city area while five have been kept as a reserve force, he added.
The Returning Officer said, massive preparation has already been taken for holding the KCC polls free, fair and peaceful manner.
A total of 2,320 CCTV cameras have been installed both inside and outside the polling booths, he said, adding that no one will be allowed to enter into the polling booths except voters, he said, adding that EC will take tough action against any irregularities in the election.
On the other hand, a total of 16 striking forces of the Rapid Action Battalion
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has been deployed in the KCC polls, said Commanding Officer of RAB-6 Lt Col Firoz Kabir at a press briefing held at the Govt Zila School Ground on Sunday.
Besides, the bomb disposal unit of the RAB has started to check out for hidden explosives in each booth of all 289 centers. RAB will also monitor any attempt to disburse black money by any candidate before or during the polls, he added.
As many as 5,35,522 voters, including 2,68,828 male and 2,66,698 female, will cast their votes in the KCC polls.
