Mohiuddin Alamgir

The Election Commission hopes that the voter turnout will increase in Dhaka city elections with participation of young voters.

A little over a year after the parliamentary election, the two arch-rival political parties once again lock horns in the much-anticipated Dhaka city polls today amid widespread fears of violence and concerns over the use of EVMs.

With the Dhaka city corporation election just two days away, many fear law and order in the capital may deteriorate.

Amid reservations of opposition political parties and experts and confusion among many voters, the Election Commission is all set to hold its first major all-EVM polls.

Rakibul Alam, while walking through Mirpur 10, stopped in his tracks to listen to what a bunch of people holding signs and banners were talking about. Right there, a street rally of Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral candidate Sajedul Haq Rubel was taking place.

A police investigation report submitted to the returning office of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) election showed that they did not find any attack on Tabith Awal -- BNP’s mayor candidate for DNCC -- and his followers.

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday said re-election should be held with traditional ballot papers if polls using EVMs see less than 50 percent voter turnout.

The Election Commission is planning to engage some 42,700 law enforcers on election duty, to maintain law and order during the Dhaka city corporations’ polls on February 1.

Awami League’s mayor candidates for Dhaka city polls will meet election campaign expenditures from their pocket, while BNP and other parties’ candidates said their families will bear a significant portion of the costs.

The Election Commission last night shifted the Dhaka city corporation polls date to February 1 in the face of mounting pressure from various quarters as the previous date, January 30, coincided with Saraswati Puja.

The Election Commission will spend around Tk 40 crore for holding the Dhaka city polls on January 30, almost double the amount spent in the previous elections in 2015.

The Election Commission appears to be in a fix as the Hindu community and Dhaka University students continue to demand deferral of the Dhaka city corporations election that coincides with Saraswati Puja, a major religious festival of the Hindus.

The High Court’s rejection of a writ petition filed for shifting the date of two Dhaka city elections -- as the Saraswati Puja coincides with the voting day -- has shocked Hindu community members who are demanding deferral of the date.

At least 69 BNP-backed councillor candidates in Dhaka city are facing more than a thousand cases while only six Awami League-supported aspirants are facing 10 lawsuits, show their affidavits submitted to the returning officers.

The Election Commission would wait for High Court directives on whether to change the election date for the Dhaka city corporations, which is now January 30, an election commissioner said.

Tension has grown between the ruling Awami League and Election Commission over MPs participation in the Dhaka city polls campaign.

A 19-day election campaign for the two Dhaka city corporations polls officially began yesterday with the ruling party candidates pledging to continue the ongoing development work in the capital.

Mayoral and councillor aspirants are set to launch campaigning for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) elections from today.

The number of aspirants for the mayor and councillor posts in the two upcoming Dhaka city elections has seen a sharp fall compared to 2015.

The Election Commission yesterday cancelled the nomination of Jatiya Party mayor aspirant Kamrul Hasan as his name was not on the voter list of Dhaka North City Corporation.