Election to 234 municipalities 30 Dec

Elections to 234 municipalities across the country will be held on 30 December, said chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Tuesday, reports news agency UNB.
The CEC announced the election schedule for the 234 municipalities out of the country’s 323 ones at a press briefing at the Media Centre of the EC Secretariat.

As per the schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is December 3 while the dates for the scrutiny are 5 and 6 December, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is 13 December.
The municipal elections will partly be held under party line for the first time as Parliament passed the Local Government (Municipality) (Amendment) Bill 2015 on 19 November, paving the path for mayoral candidates to contest the elections with party symbols.
However, the polls to the remaining councillor posts, including the one reserved for women, of the municipalities will be held in a non-partisan manner under the existing system.

Additional Deputy Commissioners (General) have been appointed returning officers for the countrywide municipal elections, while 60 district election officers and 133 upazila election officers assistant returning officers.
Some 71,62,396 voters, including 35,86,356 men and 35,76,040 women, will be able to exercise their franchise through 19,187 booths of possible 3,582 polling stations during the elections.

Around 3,924 public representatives, including 234 mayors, 738 councillors, from reserve seat set aside for women and 2952 general councillors will be elected through the municipal elections.
Some 61,000 possible election officials, including 3582 presiding officers, 19,187 assistant presiding officers and 38,374 polling officers will conduct the polls.

The CEC said no political party registered with the Election Commission (EC) can give its nomination to more than one aspirant in a single municipality. If so, the nomination papers of all aspirants nominated by the party concerned will stand rejected.
President or general secretary or persons holding equivalent posts of a political party or persons authorised by the aforementioned persons can nominate party’s mayoral candidates, he said.

City corporation mayors and MPs will also not be allowed to participate in electioneering for any candidate, he added.
As per the election code of conduct, the VVIPs enjoying government privileges cannot take part in the election campaign, Rakibuddin said.
The VVIPs include the Prime Minister, the Speaker, Ministers, the chief whip, the deputy speaker, the opposition leader and the deputy leader of the House and the opposition deputy leader, state ministers, whips, deputy minister, those holding posts equivalent to VVIPs, MPs and city corporation mayors, he said.

Independent mayoral aspirants, except those who were elected as mayor of the municipality in the past, need to collect the signatures of 100 voters of their respective municipalities to contest the polls as per the electoral rule, the CEC said.
As per the electoral rules, a political party can spend maximum Tk one lakh as election expenditure in each municipality, he said.
The CEC gave the probable candidates 48 hours to remove their posters and banners from their respective areas.
The 234 municipalities are:

Rangpur Division: Panchagar, Pirganj (Thakurgaon) Ranishangkail, Thakurgaon, Phulbari, Dinajpur, Bigranj, Birampur, Hakimpur, Syedpur, Jhaldhaka, Lalmonirhat, Patgram, Badarganj, Kurigram, Nageshwari, Ulipur, Gobindaganj, Gaibandha and Sundarganj.

Rajshahi Division: Akkelpur, Kalai, Joypurhat, Sherpur, Sariakandi, Gabtoli, Santahar, Kahalu, Dhunat, Nandigram, Shibganj, Bogra, Rahanpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Shibganj, Nachole, Naogaon, Nazipur, Kankonhat, Aarani, Mundumala, Kishorehat, Godagari, Taherpur, Bhabaniganj, Tanore, Katakhali, Charghat, Durgapur, Puthia, Naldangha, Gopalpur, Gurudashpur, Singra, Baraigram, Natore, Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, Ullapara, Raiganj, Belkuchi, Kazipur, Chatmohar, Santhia, Sujanagar, Faridpur, Bhangura, Pabna and Ishwardi.
Khulna Division: Gangni, Mirpur, Kushtia Sadar, Bheramara, Kumarkhali, Khuksha, Darshana, Jibonnagar, Alamdanga, Chuadanga, Kotchandpur, Maheshpur, Harinakunda, Shailkupa, Nawapara, Manirampur, Bagherpara, Chaugachha, Keshabpur, Jessore, Magura, Kalia, Narail, Morrelganj, Mongla Port, Bagerhat, Chalna, Paikgachha, Kolaroa and Satkhira.

Barisal Division: Betagi, Patharghata, Borguna, Kalapara, Kuakata, Burhanuddin, Daulatkhan, Bhola, Muladi, Gaurnadi, Mehendiganj, Banaripara, Bakerganj, Ujirpur, Nalchity, Pirojpur and Swarupkathi.

Dhaka Division: Dhanbari, Madhupur, Tangail, Mirzapur, Bhuapur, Shakhipur, Gopalpur, Kalihati, Sarishabari, Melandaha, Jamalpur, Islampur, Madarganj, Dewanganj, Nakla, Nalitabari, Sherpur, Sreebardi, Muktagachha, Gauripur, Ishwarganj, Trishal, Bhaluka, Gafargaon, Nandail, Phulpur, Phulbaria, Madan, Mohanganj, Netrakona, Durgapur, Kendua, Kuliarchar, Kishoreganj, Hossainpur, Katiadi, Bajidpur, Bhairab, Karimganj, Singair, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Mirkadim, Dhamrai, Savar, Madhabdi, Monohardi, Tarabo, Sonargaon, Pangsha, Rajbari, Goalando, Boalmari, Nagarkanda, Gopalganj, Tungipara, Kalkini, Shibchar, Madaripur, Naria, Damudya, Zajira, Vedarganj and Shariatpur.

Sylhet Division: Chatak, Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, Dirai, Jakiganj, Kanaighat, Golapganj, Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, Kulaura, Barlekha, Nabiganj, Habiganj, Chunarughat, Madhabpur and Shaistaganj.

Chittagong Division: Akhaura, Chandina, Laksam, Daudkandi, Barura, Chauddagram, Homna, Hajiganj, Chengarchar, Faridganj, Kachua, Matlab, Dagonbhuiyan, Feni, Parshuram, Basurhat, Chowmuhani, Hatia, Chatkhil, Ramganj, Ramgati, Raipur, Sandip, Banshkhali, Chandanaish, Satkania, Mirsarai, Patiya, Raujan, Barairhat, Rangunia, Sitakunda, Khagrachhari, Matiranga, Rangamati, Lama and Bandarban.
The Commission has the legal obligation to hold election to a municipality within 90 days before the expiry of its five-year tenure. It arranged elections to 265 municipalities in four phases in January 2011.