Voting underway in 233 local government bodies

Voting in 233 local government bodies including Cumilla City Corporation (CCC) and Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) is underway on Saturday morning.

The voting began at 8am and will continue till 4pm without any break.

As the ruling Awami League is not officially participating in the elections, six of its leaders -- two in Cumilla and four in Mymensingh -- are running for mayor as independents. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the polls and two of its expelled leaders are running for mayor in Cumilla.

In Mymensingh, incumbent mayor Ekramul Haque Titu, district Awami League president Ehteshamul Alam, district unit AL adviser Sadiqul Haque Khan Milki, former member of Krishak League Rezaul Haque Reza and district unit Jatiya Party joint general secretary Shahidul Islam Swapan Mondal are contesting the mayoral post.

Meanwhile, four heavyweight candidates are contesting in the by-election of Cumilla City Corporation (CCC). Among them are the expelled BNP leader Monirul Haque Sakku, the daughter of MP Bahar and Organizational Secretary of the city Awami League, Tahsin Bahar Suchi, Swechasebak Dal leader Nizam Uddin Kaiser and city Awami League unit advisor Noor ur Rahman Mahmud Tanim.