KHULNA, June12, 2023 (BSS)-Polling of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) polls has begun peacefully amid tight security measures and festive atmosphere with spontaneous participation of the enthusiastic voters.

The elections is being held at 1,732 polling booths of 289 centres in 31 wards of the KCC with an area of 4,394.46 square kilometres using around 3,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Hundreds of voters, including male, female and youths, have stood in queues in the polling centres since this morning and the number of waiting voters in the queues have been increasing gradually.

A total of 289 presiding officers, 1,732 assistant presiding officers and 3,464 polling officers with election inputs and security forces reached to the polling centers timely, the EC sources said.
Main opposition BNP has boycotted the KCC-2023 polls.

In the KCC polls, this year, five candidates, who are vying for mayoral post, are AL 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).

Returning Officer of the KCC polls Md. Alauddin said, 'voting for Khulna City election has started at 8:00 am. It will continue till 4:00 pm. Action will be taken if any complain comes from the concerned officials.

As many as 5,35,522 voters, including 2,68,828 males and 2,66,698 females, will apply their voting rights in the KCC polls.

AL backed Talukder Abdul Khaleque (Boat) has casted his vote at Pioneer Girls’ High School Center under Ward no-22 around 9.15am. In his reaction, after casting his vote, Khaleque told the journalists that at least 60 to 65 percent votes will be casted.

“I am hopeful to win as the city dwellers responded positively to him while campaigning door to door,” he said. Replying a question, Khaleque said, I will accept the election results, even if I lose. 

Jatiya Party's Shafiqul Islam Modhu (Plough) has casted his vote at Shonadanga Collegiate High School Center under ward no-17 at around 10.30am.
While talking to BSS, Shafiqul Islam Modhu said the votes are being casted, so far. He expected that main competition will be held between ‘boat’ and plough.
Replying a question, Modhu said AL backed candidate Khaleque may be win if vote casting percentage is over 50 percent.

Bangladesh Islami Andolon's Moulana Abdul Awal (Hand Fan), has casted his vote at Darul Quran Bohumukhi Madrasa Center under ward no-26 around 10.00am.
Talking to BSS, Moulana Awal said it is not possible to say whether election is fair or not right now. He also hoped that he will win if election is free and fair and over 70 percent voters are being casted.

Zaker Party's S M Sabbir Hossain (Rose) has casted his vote at Motiakhali Govt Primary School Center under ward no-31while independent candidate Shafiqur Rahman Mushfiq (Table clock) has casted his vote at Alia Madrasha Khulna Center under ward no-29.