Polls in 2 Dhaka city corporations on Jan 30

The elections to Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation will be held on January 30 next year.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda announced the schedule of the elections today at a press conference at the Media Centre of the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

As per the schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination is December 31, while the date for scrutinising nomination papers is January 2 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 9.

The entire elections will be held using electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of traditional ballot papers, the chief election commissioner said adding that two army personnel will be there in every polling station to safeguard the voting machines.

The voting will be held from 8am to 4pm without any break, he said.

Election Commission joint secretary Abul Kashem has been appointed returning officer of the Dhaka North City Corporation election, while its another joint secretary Abdul Baten as the returning officer of the Dhaka South City Corporation election.

The last elections to both the city corporations of the capital were held on April 28, 2015. Sayeed Khokon and Annisul Huq were elected the Dhaka north mayor and the Dhaka south mayor respectively.

Following the death of Dhaka north mayor Annisul Huq, the by-election to the Dhaka north mayoral post was held in February 2019, when Atiqul Islam was elected the Dhaka north mayor.

In the upcoming January 30 elections, some 58 lakh people will have the opportunity to exercise their franchise under the two city corporations.

The number of voters in Dhaka north is 30,35,621 and they will be able to cast their votes under 1,349 possible polling stations in 54 wards. A total of 73 public representatives including a mayor, 54 general councillors and 18 women councillors from reserved seats will be elected in the polls.

In Dhaka north, the number of voters is 27,67,488 while it will have 1,124 possible polling stations in 75 wards. A total of 101 public representatives, including a mayor, 75 general councillors and 25 women councillors from reserved seats will be elected in the polls.

Banani Community Centre will be used as the office of the returning officer in the Dhaka north election, while Motijheel Community Centre as the office of the returning officer in the Dhaka south election.

According to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, the election to any city corporation should be held within the last 180 days of its five-year tenure that starts with the first meeting of the corporation.

So, the Election Commission has the legal obligation to complete Dhaka north election by May 13 and Dhaka south election by May 16.