Sylhet Representative/

A total of 7 mayors and 372 councilors are contesting the Sylhet City Corporation (CCIC) elections after scrutiny appeals and hearings.

In Sylhet City Corporation elections to be held on June 21, one of the mayors, general councilors of 42 wards and 14 reserved ward councilors will be elected through voting.

After the establishment of Sylhet City Corporation in 2002, this is the first time that all the wards of Sylhet are voting through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). There is also a mixed reaction among the voters and candidates.

Of the five mayoral candidates whose nominations were canceled, three appealed and one regained his candidacy. As a result of which the final fight will compete for the position of mayor, Awami League nominated candidate. Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Jatiya Party’s nominated candidate Nazrul Islam Babul, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s nominated candidate Hafiz Maulana Mahmudul Hasan, Zaker Party’s Md. Zahirul Alam, independent candidate Mohammad Abdul Hanif Kutu, independent candidate Md. Chalah Uddin Rimon and independent candidate. Shah Jahan Mia.

Of the 11 councilors whose nominations were cancelled, 7 have withdrawn their candidature. Out of which there are 4 people in general ward and 3 people in reserved ward (women councillors). As a result, 372 councilors will compete in the final battle. Out of which the number of candidates in general ward (male councillor) is 285 and reserved ward (female councillor) is 87.

In the past, there was this city corporation with 27 wards, but now there are 42 wards in this metropolis with an area of 79.50 square kilometers. Where the total number of voters is 4 lakh 87 thousand 753 people. Among them, 2 lakh 54 thousand 363 males, 2 lakh 33 thousand 384 females and 6 third gender or Hijra voters.

There are 190 polling stations in CSIC elections where there will be 1 thousand 462 permanent and temporary polling booths.