Voting in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and the Barishal City Corporation (BCC) ended at 4:00pm on Monday (June 12). Now the counting is underway.

Earlier, voting began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm without any break.

BCC Returning Officer (RO) Md Humayun Kabir said, “The voting held peacefully except one or two isolated incidents. The counting is now underway. The final result will be announced officially after getting result of every ward by presiding officers.”

However, an allegation found that an attack was carried out on Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, mayoral candidate of Islami Andolon Bangladesh in Barishal City Corporation (BCC). He submitted complaint to the police commissioner over the matter.

Police Commissioner Saiful Islam said, “The mayoral candidate of ‘hand fan’ symbol filed complaint over attack. Steps will be taken after identing the involvers.”

BCC Returning Officer (RO) said, “We instructed law enforcement agencies to take legal steps soon in this regard.”

In Barishal City Corporation, the number of voters is 274,995. Of them, 138,071 are female and 136,924 are male voters. They cast their votes at 126 polling centres.

Seven mayoral candidates were contesting in the BCC polls. They were – Awami League nominated Abul Khair Abdullah, independent candidate Md Kamrul Ahsan, Mufti Syed Mohammad Fayzul Karim, Md Ali Hossain Hawlader, Mizanur Rahman Bacchu, Md Iqbal Hossain and Md Asaduzzaman.

A total of 116 councillor candidates had been competing in 30 wards of Barishal City Corporation and 42 female councillors vying for 10 reserved seats.

Meanwhile, KCC Returning Officer (RO) Md Alauddin said, “The voting ended in very much fair manner and peacefully. The counting is underway.”

In the Khulna City Corporation, five candidates have been contesting for the mayoral post while 136 candidates are vying for 31 general councillor posts and 39 candidates competing for 10 reserved councillor posts.

The mayoral candidates are – ruling Awami League nominated immediate past KCC mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Maulana Abdul Awal, Jatiya Party’s Shafiqul Islam Madhu, Zaker Party’s SM Sabbir Hossain and independent candidate Shafiqur Rahman (Mushfique).

The number of voters in the Khulna City Corporation is 535,529. Among them, 266,696 are female and 268,833 are male. Voting is being held at 1,732 booths of 289 polling centres.