Liton expects around 65 pc vote cast in RCC election

Former Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) AHM Khairuzzaman Liton expected that around 65 percent voters will exercise their rights of franchise in the RCC election scheduled to be held on Wednesday, reports BSS.

He said there are optimum numbers of candidates for the posts of general councilors and reserved seats for women in all 30 wards in addition to the mayoral candidates. So, there will be no problems for voters.

Liton, who is a presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League, is contesting in the RCC mayoral election after getting nomination from his party.

Addressing a meet the press at Nanking Darbar Hall in the city on Monday, former RCC Mayor Khairuzzaman Liton said employment generation will be his top priority in the next five-year term if he was reelected.

He has also a plan of generating employment opportunities for around 50,000 people.

Liton is intended to complete all the unfinished development works. "We will expand the existing 96 square kilometer city area to around 350 square kilometers consisting of the adjacent areas, including the char (riverbed) of the Padma river if I was voted to power again," Liton said.

He has planned to reclaim around 12 square kilometres of char land of Padma River for developing a river city adjacent to the city protection embankment.

As the river's main flow turned towards its right bank, the river city might be built on the left bank.

Liton said the part of the river near the left bank, where flood water remains for less than a month every year, would be turned into a huge lake.

The lake would stand between the satellite town and the city protection embankment and there would be a bridge to the newly developed city, he added.

"Rajshahi would be beautiful if we can properly execute the plan," Liton said, adding that the city's accommodation problems will be eased as well.

Responding to a question he said there is no chance of chaos and untoward incidents in the election as the law enforcing agencies have adopted tight security measures to make the polls peaceful and successful.

Three candidates, including AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, are now in the election race for mayoral post, while 155 for councilors in 30 wards.

There are 3,51,982 voters to exercise their right of franchise in EVM in 1,153 rooms of 155 polling centres in 30 wards from 8am to 4pm without any break.