Rifat confident of winning, Sakku says EMVs ‘very slow’
The two frontrunners in the Comilla city mayoral race, Arfanul Haque Rifat and Monirul Haque Sakku, have cast their votes in the election to the city corporation.

Rifat, the ruling Awami League-backed candidate, exercised his franchise at the Comilla Victoria Collegiate School centre, while Sakku, whom the BNP has expelled for life for contesting the polls defying the party’s stance, voted at the Hossamia Lutfnnessa Girls School centre – both at around 9am on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sakku said: “‘So far the voting situation is looking good. However, EVMs are very slow, which is why voting is being delayed.”

Wednesday’s voting began at 8am and will continue until 4pm without any break. 

A total of 229,920 voters will exercise their voting rights using EVMs at 105 centres. 

Five candidates are vying for the office of mayor. 

Security around the city has been beefed up to prevent any untoward incidents.

It is the third election to the Comilla City Corporation after its formation in 2011 and the first under the new Election Commission.

The last Comilla city election was held on Mar 30, 2017, which saw then-BNP leader Sakku getting elected mayor for a second term.

This is the first election under the new Election Commission

Long queues of voters were seen at the Victoria College polling station during the Comilla City Corporation elections on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Voting to 27 wards in Comilla City Corporation is underway. Voting began at 8am on Wednesday and will continue till 4pm.

This is the major first election under the new Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.

As many as 229,920 voters will exercise their rights to franchise at the 105 polling centres through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Arfanul Haque Rifat is the mayoral nominee of the ruling Awami League while his main rival former BNP leader Monirul Haque Sakku is contesting without party backing. 

This is the third city corporation polls being held in Comilla since its formation in 2012. The first election of this city corporation was held on January 5, 2012 and the second election of the city was held on March 30, 2017.

The local government polls including voting to five municipalities, Upazila Parishads and Union Parishads are also underway.