Awami League nominated mayoral candidate Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury casted his vote along with his wife Holy Chowdhury in the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) elections.
After voting, he said, "Whatever the result, I will accept it."
Expressing satisfaction over the situation of the Sylhet city polls, he said he is "100% hopeful" about victory.
The Sylhet city residents will ensure the victory of ‘boat’ by a huge margin of votes, he said while talking to reporters after casting his vote at Pathantula Shahjalal Jameya Islamia Kamil Madrasa polling station.
He also urged people to cast their votes for ‘boat’.
“If I do not win in the election, I will congratulate the person who will win, and go to his home with flowers,” he said.
He also visited other polling stations in Pathantula.
Voting in the election to Sylhet city corporation is underway peacefully.
Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break.
SCC was established in 2002. Sylhet city elections have been held 4 times so far. Apart from of Awami League or BNP, no one has been elected as mayor there so far.
According to the office of returning officers in Sylhet, there are a total of 4,87,753 voters in the city. There have been 42 general wards. Eight candidates are contesting for the mayor post where 273 for the ward councillor post and 87 for the reserved ward (14 posts) councillor post. There are a total of 1,364 polling booths in 190 polling centres.
The other mayoral candidates are the Jatiya Party`s Nazrul Islam Babul, the Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB)`s Mahmudul Hasan, and the Zaker Party`s Zahirul Alam are the contenders for mayor.
Mohammad Abdul Hanif Kutu, Salah Uddin Rimon, Mostaque Ahmad Rouf Mustafa, and Md. Shahjahan Miah are the independent candidates for mayor.
Around 132 centres have been designated as "important," which is another word for "risky," and more security is provided in these locations.
Police and ansar forces are present in the centres. In addition, security tasks are being carried out by 15 strike teams, 51 mobile police units, and Rapid Action Battalions.
Additionally, the Critical Response Team (CRT) and Armoured Personnel Carrier of the Police have been put on standby in case of crises.
In addition, the city is overseen by 10 magistrates commanding 10 BGB platoons, 42 executive magistrates, and 14 judicial judges for the prompt trial of election-related offenses.
In order to maintain surveillance from the EC headquarters, the Election Commission has also deployed 1,747 closed circuit cameras in the polling places.
