Independent candidate Monirul Haque (Sakku) cast his vote in the Cumilla City Corporation (CCC) polls at around 9.15am on Wednesday.
After casting his vote at the Husamiah High School centre in the city, Monirul said the environment at the polling centres is satisfactory. However, he complained that voting in EVMs was slow.
Monirul Haque, who won the mayoral election twice in a row, hoped to register win for the third time in a row if the polls are fair.
Monirul is taking part in the election as an independent candidate with the symbol ‘table clock’. He never had lost an election in his entire political career.
He first took part in the Cumilla pourashava (municipality) polls on 21 September, 2005. He won that election. Monirul was elected the mayor as an independent candidate with 65,557 votes in first mayoral election of CCC on 5 January, 2012. He defeated Awami League backed candidate Afjal Khan by 29,106 votes.
On 30 March 2017, he took part in the mayoral polls for the second time with party symbol ‘sheaf of paddy’ and won with 68,948 votes. He defeated Awami League nominated candidate Anjum Sultana by 11,085 votes that time.
He is competing for the post of mayor for the third time. He has been expelled from BNP for taking part in the polls ignoring the party’s decision.