<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Voting in Rangpur City Corporation began on Tuesday morning using electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 229 centres.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It began at 8:00am and will continue till 4:30pm, said Returning Officer Abdul Baten.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nine candidates were vying for the mayoral post while 183 people are contesting for councillor posts under 33 wards. Sixty-eight candidates are contesting the polls for 11 reserved seats.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The mayoral candidates are: Amiruzzaman from Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Abu Raihan from Bangladesh Congress, Touhidur Rahman Mandal from Khelafat Majlish, Mostafizur Rahman from Jatiya Party, Shafier Rahman from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia from Awami League, Khorshed Alam from Zaker Party, Mehedi Hasan and Latifur Rahman as independent candidates.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, a total of 4,26,470 voters are expected to vote in the city corporation election.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All preparations have been taken to hold a free and fair election, the official said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mobile court drives were being conducted to ensure that the election code is followed, he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Campaigning in the Rangpur City Corporation election ended on Sunday midnight amid much enthusiasm.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A total of 229 presiding officers, 1,349 assistant presiding officers and 2,698 polling officers are performing their duties to maintain order in the voting centres.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first Rangpur City Corporation election was held on December 21, 2017. The tenure of the current mayor will expire on February 18, 2023. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>