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Hope for a different polls in Khulna city

Candidates, voters happy as muscle power, black money out of scene this time

Hasan Jahid Tusher and Quazi AMANULLAH,/rom Khulna
For the first time since independence, Khulna, which was once known as valley of death, may witness a peaceful city corporation election today with no criminal activities, use of muscle power and black money and violence.
This may be possible due to initia-fives by law enforcers, who failed Io act properly earlier due to political influence, election officials said.
Both mayoral and councilor candidates have expressed their satisfaction over law enforcement agencies' performance as they contained notorious outlawed party carders and organised gangs.
The two main mayoral contend-ers'-lhlukdcr Abdul Khaleque and Moniruzzaman Moni -hoped that a free and fair election would be held today in which people's hopes would be reflected.
Talking to The Daily Star, they said they arc not concerned about criminal activities this time.
The port cum-industrial city had witnessed use of muscle power and series of killings in every election in the past since 1971, including the 2001 parliamentary and 2002 city corporation polls. Use of small arms and bombs were usual in all the past polls, according to the law enforcers.
Normally, influential candidates, especially from major political parties, patronised criminals and outlaws and hired goons and to work in their favour, often intimidating voters and candidates.
This time, the city dwellers have heaved a sigh of relief ahead of the poll. Many of them expressed their opinions while talking to these correspondents.
Law’ enforcers started a massive operation from Saturday midnight in the city to nab criminals and outlaws ahead of the polls.
A number of law enforcers said they would continue their drives until the election r'esultis announced. -All pollihg centers have been brought under security
cordon with intensified vigilance by intelligence agencies.
FORCE DEPLOYMENT
A total of 8200 police and Ansar personnel and 200 members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will be deployed today. Each team comprising 28 to 30 policemen will guard each polling centre. Besides, 48 mobile police teams and 10 to 12 Rab teams along with intelligence wings and bomb experts will be on surveillance duty.
One mobile court headed by a First Class Magistrate will be on round-the-clock duty for each two wards to detect fake voters and punish them. One magistrate wall fiead one mobile team in each ward to ensure peaceful voting.
"This time we will ensure a foolproof security to ensure that
the election is held in a free and fair manner," Assistant Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Mohammad Aslam Khan told The Daily Star yesterday.
Law enforcers arrested two persons for distributing handbills secretly among residents in Skid Ghat Labour Colony in ward no 21 in favour of councilor candidate Abu Saleh. The arrestees were identified as Azfar Hossain and Nazrul Islam.
CANDIDATES'VIEWS
Most of the mayoral candidates these correspondents talked to seemed to be very happy over the polls management although the election is being held undpi emergency.
, ■, "We; still hope that the election1 will be free and fair and people would cast their votes independ-
ently," mayoral candidate Moni told The Daily Star. Khaleque said the polls would really be fair as criminals arc on the run due to law enforcers' drives. "I hope I will win if there is no interference," he said. CANDIDATES, CENTERS AND VOTERS
Six candidates are vying for the post of mayor, 207 for 31 posts of councillors and 46 for 10 reserved seats for women. There are 3,99,398 voters and 239 polling centers in the city.
A total of2,330 polling officers and 1,165 assistant presiding officers will conduct the polls, said Returning Officer Mohammad Mohsin Ali.
In a bid to reduce people's hassles, local election commission might display the vote resullts) on a big screen through projector, sources said.