Shawdesh Desk:

Voting for Mymensingh City Corporation election and Cumilla city’s mayoral by-polls are underway in a peaceful manner.

The voting started at 8:00am and will continue till 4:00pm.

In Cumilla, a total of 2,42,458 voters are expected to exercise their franchise.

The post of Cumilla city mayor fell vacant following the death of mayor Arfanul Haque Rifat on December 13 last year.

Tahsin Bahar Suchona, Nizam Uddin Kaisar, former mayor Manirul Haque Sakku and Nur-ur-Rahman are vying for the mayoral post.

In Mymensingh, balloting to elect Mymensingh City Corporation began in the morning using electronic voting machines.

Returning officer Mohammad Belayet Hossain Chowdhury said that apart from striking forces, seven platoons of BGB, 11 platoons of police, armed police, Ansar members and 17 teams of RAB members will remain on the field to ensure security.

Besides, 33 executive magistrates and 11 judicial magistrates are performing their duties.

Four policemen and 12 Ansar members are performing their duties at each polling station.

Ikramul Haque Titu, Ehteshamul Alam, Advocate Sadequl Haque Khan Milky, Rezaul Haque, and Shahidul Islam Swapan are contesting for the mayoral post.

Besides, 149 councillors and 69 women councilors are contesting the polls for 32 ward councillor posts and 11 reserved seats for women.

On January 24, the Election Commission announced the polls schedule.