Most of the mayor and councillor aspirants in the upcoming Chittagong City Corporation elections are businessmen, Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, a civil society platform, said today.

Sujon came up with the information while publishing its study of the particulars of candidates vying in the CCC polls during a press conference at Chittagong Press Club.

A total of 188 candidates, or 65.73 percent, out of 286 are businessmen, Akter Kabir Chowdhury, Chittagong chapter secretary of Shujan, said while reading out the study report.

Meanwhile, addressing the programme, Sujon Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the election commission (EC) will have to take decision about army deployment in the city corporation polls slated for April 28.

“The previous experience in upazila polls was not pleasant and many people were killed in violence. There were instances of casting false votes and occupying polling centres,” Badiul Alam said.

“The commission will have to take decision whether they will be able to hold city polls peacefully without deployment of army,” he added.

“If they think deployment of army is necessary for peacefully holding the election, then they should deploy army,” he further said.

According to the study, a total of 20 candidates are multimillionaire. Of them, three mayoral aspirants – AZM Nasir Uddin, M Manjur Alam and Solaiman Alam Seth – have properties over Tk 5 crore. Two mayor candidates and 2 councilor candidates earn over a crore taka per year, the study reads.

Akter Kabir further said 63 candidates (22.02 pc) are accused in at least one case at present.

Educational qualification of 156 candidates (54.54 percent) is SSC or below SSC and only 71 candidates (24.82pc) are either graduate or post graduate, Kabir said.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda today hoped that the upcoming general elections will be held in a festive and joyful atmosphere.

He said, “The government officials have already completed their preparations for holding a fair election, so have the candidates and the voters.”

The CEC was addressing a view-exchange meeting with field level officials to be involved in the 11th parliamentary elections at Tareq Smriti Auditorium of Mymensingh Town Hall this noon.

Nurul Huda urged the officials to give special attention so that voters from the minority communities can cast their votes without fear and intimidation.

“Special attention must be given to the minority voters so that they do not feel insecure to go to the polling stations and can cast their votes freely”, he said.

“I have seen a spontaneous presence of people on both sides of the road while coming to Mymensigh from Dhaka, which indicates the people are ready to cast their votes. The preparations to hold the elections are satisfactory,” the CEC said.

He directed the government officials to discharge their duties sincerely.

The CEC said the members of the armed forces will be on the field from December 24 to ensure security on the election day.

They (armed forces) have already completed the groundwork to this end, he further said.

A BNP delegation today met Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and alleged of having no level-playing field ahead of the upcoming Dhaka north and south city corporation elections scheduled for February 1.

“Ruling party candidates are campaigning by setting up camps on footpaths, roads and by putting up posters and banners across the city -- violating the electoral code of conduct,” BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters after holding a meeting with the CEC at his Election Commission office in Dhaka this afternoon.

Claiming that the level-playing field is still elusive, Amir Khasru said the ruling party lawmakers and ministers are taking part in the campaigns of their candidates by breaching all sections of the electoral code of conduct.

“Awami League activists are attacking our candidates but no action is being taken against them, rather our party men are facing cases. There is no security for our candidates,” he added.

Alongside, the Awami League men are removing BNP candidates’ publicity materials like posters and banners across the electoral areas, the BNP leader said.

He also criticised the activities of the executive magistrates who were deployed to monitor the violation of the electoral code of conduct and said their activities are not visible.

“Our candidates are abiding by the electoral code fully while Awami League men are breaching the code,” Amir Khasru alleged.

He also blasted the Election Commission for allowing some observer groups and said they will work in favour of a party in the election and on election day they will say the vote was held in a free and fair manner.”

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has opened a Facebook page titled 'Rab Cyber News Verification Centre' to make people aware of false news and rumour spread during the upcoming general election.

Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Benazir Ahmed revealed it at a press conference regarding the elite force's preparation for the 11th parliamentary election at its media center in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar today.

If anyone becomes confused about any news, he/she will have to share it on the Facebook page and the Rab team will instantly reply it after verifying the truth, said the Rab DG.

Rab officials will work round the clock, he added.

He also said the Facebook page will remain open to counter all lies, rumours and false news centering the election slated for December 30.

A total of 10,000 Rab members have been deployed across the country ahead of the election, said the Rab DG.

"If anyone dares to carry out violence in any place, we will obstruct them and the force is ready to resist them," he added.

Two army helicopters will remain standby on the election day, he said adding, "A special force will be kept standby for travelling to any part of the country if needed."

Benazir also requested all to inform them any kind of violent incidents so that they can take instant action.