Voting ends, counting continues in GCC polls

The voting in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election ended peacefully this afternoon amid stringent security measures and festivity while the vote counting is being carried out in the polling stations.

Voting started at 8 in the morning with participation of a huge number of voters, standing on long queues. The voting continued till 4pm without any break. There were 425 polling stations in 57 wards for 11,37,736 voters in the city corporation area.

“The GCC election is being held in a free, fair and peaceful manner. But voting was stopped at some centers as allegations of irregularities were raised,” Returning Officer Rakib Uddin Mandol said at a press conference here when the voting was underway in the afternoon.

He visited 14 voting centers across the city corporation area where he found that the elections were held in a free, fair and peaceful manner, he said, adding that measures will be taken as per the electoral rules and regulations in the stations where there are allegations of irregularities.

Awami League mayor candidate Jahangir Alam and BNP nominee Hasan Uddin Sarker cast their votes at their respective voting centers.

After casting his vote, Jahangir Alam expressed the hope that the people of Gazipur city will elect the ‘Boat’ (symbol of Jahangir Alam) through fair elections.

“Our party leaders and activists were directed to take measures so that all voters, including voters of others parties, of Gazipur can cast their votes spontaneously and freely,” he said.

He also said that he has a mentality to accept any result -win or defeat.

Although BNP nominee Hasan Uddin Sarker alleged that many of his agents were beaten up and driven out from different polling centres, he hoped for a free and fair election.

“I will remain in the election field till the last moment. I hope people of the Gazipur will vote for ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ in the election,” he said.