KHULNA, June 11, 2023 (BSS)-  The authorities concerned have completed all -out  preparations  to hold Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls-2023 tomorrow in  a free and fair manner .
 
The elections will be held at 1,732   booths of 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 tomorrow in the electoral area of KCC  to facilitate the voters to cast their votes.
 
In the KCC polls, this year, five candidates, who are vying for mayoral post, are- Awami League  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   .
 
Meanwhile, the Returning Officer (RO) of KCC polls Md Alauddin and Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Masudur Rahman Bhuiyan at a press briefing in City’s Boyra Police Lines Ground today told journalists that three-tier security measures have been taken for holding  free and fair polls .
 
The commissioner said, around 8,300 members of the law enforcement agencies including 4,520 police men, 300 APBN, 3468 Ansers will be deployed in the city today.
 
Besides, fifteen striking forces including 8 reserve forces and five standby forces consist of 55 in each team, 62 mobile petrol teams of KMP will  also be  deployed  .
 
At least 11 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be  deployed in the city area while five more teams will be kept standby  as reserve force, he added.
 
 
A total of 2,320 CCTV cameras have been installed both inside and outside the polling centres, he said, adding that no one will be allowed to enter into the polling booths except voters. The EC will take tough action against any irregularities in the election, he added.
 
On the other hand, a total of 16 striking forces of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will be 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 today.
 
Besides, the bomb disposal unit of the RAB  started to raid each booth of all 289 centers.
RAB will also monitor any attempt to distribute money to lure the voters by any candidate, he added.
 
A total of 5,35,522 voters, including   2,66,698 female, will cast their votes in the  polls.