Voting in the Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) elections is underway as people are appearing at the polling centres to exercise the franchise amid chilly weather.

The polling began at 8:30am on Tuesday and will continue till 4:30pm without any break, while Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in all 229 polling centres.

Voters are expecting a triangular contest among mayoral post candidates — former mayor Md Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa of Jatiya Party, Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia of Awami League, and independent candidate Latifur Rahman Milon, a rebel aspirant of Awami League.

Other mayoral candidates are Shafiar Rahman of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu), Amiruzzaman Pial of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Touhidur Rahman Mondal Raju of Khelafat Majlish, Khorshed Alam Khokan of Jaker Party, Abu Raihan of Bangladesh Congress, and independent candidate Mehedi Hasan.

Besides, 246 councillor candidates – including 67 for reserved seats for women under 11 wards – are contesting in the election.

Another opposition party BNP boycotted the election.

Jatiya Party-backed aspirant Mostafizar Rahman had to wait for half an hour to cast his vote at Alamnagar College Road Government Primary School centre due to a technical glitch in the EVM. He could finally cast his vote around 9:20am.

Talking to the reporters, Mostafizar expressed his disappointment over the issue. He, however, was optimistic about his victory in the election by a big margin.

Awami League candidate Hosne Ara cast her vote at Lions School and College centre around 9:30am.

She said the polling environment is excellent and city dwellers are coming to the centres to exercise the franchise with enthusiasm. “I am 100 per cent confident about winning the polls.”

Meanwhile, the Election Commission identified 86 polling centres as risky and important.

A six-tire security arrangement has been taken over the polls. Some 15 members of law enforcement agencies including police, Ansar and VDP, have been deployed in each centre. Additional law enforcement staff have also been deployed in 86 risky centres.

There will be one mobile force for each ward, 11 striking forces, and six reserved forces comprising 11 platoons BGB, 17 RAB teams, police, APBn, and Ansar in 33 wards of the city. Besides, 33 executive magistrates and 16 judicial magistrates will conduct mobile teams.

CCTV cameras have been installed in all the polling centres. The election is being monitored by the Election Commission at its Dhaka and Rangpur regional offices.

The total number of voters is 4,26,469 in 33 wards of Rangpur City Corporation. Of them 2,12,304 are males and 2,14,165 are females.

The first RpCC election was held on December 20, 2012, when AL-backed candidate Sharfuddin Ahamed Jhantu was elected mayor.