Sylhet, Rajshahi polls: Empty fields, open goals | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 17, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025
Sylhet, Rajshahi polls: Empty fields, open goals

Bangladesh

Foisal Ahmed
20 June, 2023, 10:35 pm
Last modified: 20 June, 2023, 10:47 pm

Related News

  • Rajshahi City Corporation terminates 159 day labourers, issues show cause notices to 38
  • Sylhet mayor holds emergency meeting to address severe flooding
  • Rajshahi city polls: Woman jailed for trying to influence voter
  • No reports of election irregularities in RCC, SCC polls, voter turnout satisfactory: EC Rasheda
  • Rajshahi polls: BNP would have benefited from contesting in election, says AL's Khairuzzaman

Sylhet, Rajshahi polls: Empty fields, open goals

Foisal Ahmed
20 June, 2023, 10:35 pm
Last modified: 20 June, 2023, 10:47 pm
Infographic: TBS
Infographic: TBS

As two last elections – Sylhet and Rajshahi – of the five scheduled city polls begin on Wednesday, there remains a sense that these will be just formalities.

No major player has taken to the field, with Jatiya Party candidate Nazrul Islam Babul the only strong rival in Sylhet, despite not boasting the best vote bank.

The rest of the candidates aren't expected to give much competition to the Awami League.

In Sylhet, the AL is banking on expat Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury. His manifesto is focused on building a green, clean and smart city. But, he hasn't masqueraded the fact that he is an actual Sylheti, "unlike the past mayors, who are from other districts", according to him.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Anwaruzzaman's nomination raised some concerns as he was never part of any of the AL's city party units. So far, however, no rebel candidates have emerged.

In Rajshahi, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton represents the ruling party for the mayoral seat. With campaign materials of Jatiya Party candidate Saiful Islam Swapan and Jaker Party's Latif Anwar barely, Liton is expected to seal a third term without any hiccups.

Expected victories, however, weren't part of the electoral narrative initially. 

It all began with Gazipur, where the AL-backed Azmat Ullah was defeated by around 10,000 votes by Zaida Khatun, mother of the-then disgraced Zahangir Alom. 

The Gazipur election, which the Election Commission touted as a model for all future polls, went without any incident. It also showed that if the people exercised their franchise, their voices would be heard. 

The only downside was the 48% voter turnout, lower than the past two Gazipur polls. It's a trend that would go on to be repeated.

From there, it was on to Barishal and Khulna. Here, the model election did not hold up, at least in Barishal, where Islami Andolon Bangladesh mayoral aspirant Faizul Karim came under attack. 

Although the EC downplayed the incident, it led to an all-out boycott by the IAB, who will also not contest the Rajshahi or Sylhet polls. 

The BNP, which already made a statement by expelling the "Mir Jafars" who decided to participate in the Barishal and Khulna polls – will also be absent from the field. 

The record low turnouts in both the elections – 51.46% in Barishal and 47.88% in Khulna – means there is room for improvement in the next two polls.

But would it be a matter of scoring in an empty field?

In the Sylhet City Polls, there are 486,605 voters for 1,364 polling booths in 190 centres. 

Of 388 candidates, eight are vying for the mayoral post, higher than the past two elections where the voter turnout was around 62%.

In the Rajshahi city polls, 352,157 voters have been enlisted for 1,153 polling booths in 155 vote centres. 

A total of 161 candidates are contesting for various positions, with four mayoral candidates. The voter turnout here will be important. In the past two polls, the turnout was 78.86% (2018) and 68.70% (2013). 

None of the three elections so far has touched the 60% turnout mark. Bringing voters to the centre is the challenge for the contestants. 

Although in these cities, there is no visible work from BNP to discourage voters, the party already requested all not to cast their vote in these polls.

Sylhet Metropolitan BNP President Nasim Hossain said, we have boycotted this election. As a result, we have no interest here.

JP Mayoral candidate Nazrul Islam Babul expressed concern about the presence of voters in the centre due to AL candidate role to creating a menace among voters, continuous rain and water in many centres. 

However, the Awamileague in both cities is desperate to bring the voters. Going door to door, they requested voters to come and vote. Even leaders from centre take part in the campaign to get more attention. 

The EC, meanwhile, has taken all our preparations, although there are aspects it can't influence.

EC Secretary Jahangir said, "The ongoing city elections is of course participatory as many candidates are participating and all of them are getting the same treatment from us regardless of their political identity. 

"Everyone should know that it is not the EC's responsibility to bring parties to participate in the election. Our duty is to arrange and manage elections properly in a free, fair manner with a level playing field available for all the participating candidates, as well as to ensure the environment for the voter to practise their voting rights freely." 

In a bid to ensure transparent and secure city polls, the EC is set to use around 3,200 CCTV cameras, with 1,740 cameras allocated for Sylhet and 1,560 for Rajshahi. 

Further, to maintain law and order during the voting process, the EC plans to station 16 law enforcement personnel, including armed police and Ansar, at each general centre, and 17 for those identified as "important". 

Additionally, 17 platoons – seven in Rajshahi and 10 in Sylhet – of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed on the voting day in those cities.

Besides, executive magistrates, mobile forces, stricting forces and RAB patrolling teams, will also be on duty, bolstering security efforts

Top News / Politics

Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) / Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) / City polls

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Army patrol amid curfew in Gopalganj on 17 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Gopalganj unrest: Army urges public to remain patient, says had to use force in self defence
  • Curfew in Gopalganj extended, to remain in effect from 2pm tomorrow until further notice: Govt
    Curfew in Gopalganj extended, to remain in effect from 2pm tomorrow until further notice: Govt
  • Home Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury while speaking to journalists at gabtoli Bus Terminal on 29 march 2025. Photo: UNB
    25 arrested over Gopalganj violence, crackdown to continue: Home adviser

MOST VIEWED

  • Bangladesh Bank buys $313m more in second dollar auction in three days
    Bangladesh Bank buys $313m more in second dollar auction in three days
  • Representational image. File Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Malaysia grants Bangladeshi workers multiple-entry visas
  • NCP leaders are seen getting on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) of the army to leave Gopalganj following attacks on their convoy after the party's rally in the district today (16 july). Photo: Focus Bangla
    NCP leaders leave Gopalganj in army's APC following attack on convoy, clashes between AL, police
  • Renata’s manufacturing standards win european recognition
    Renata’s manufacturing standards win european recognition
  • The supporters of local Awami League and Chhatra League locked in a clash with police following attacks on NCP convoy this afternoon (16 July). Photo: Collected
    Gopalganj under curfew; 4 killed as banned AL, police clash after attack on NCP leaders
  • Syed Waseque Md Ali. Photo: Collected
    First Security Islami Bank removes MD over irregularities, mismanagement

Related News

  • Rajshahi City Corporation terminates 159 day labourers, issues show cause notices to 38
  • Sylhet mayor holds emergency meeting to address severe flooding
  • Rajshahi city polls: Woman jailed for trying to influence voter
  • No reports of election irregularities in RCC, SCC polls, voter turnout satisfactory: EC Rasheda
  • Rajshahi polls: BNP would have benefited from contesting in election, says AL's Khairuzzaman

Features

On 17 July 2024, Dhaka University campus became a warzone with police firing tear shells and rubber bullets to control the student movement. File Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

17 July 2024: Students oust Chhatra League from campuses, Hasina promises 'justice' after deadly crackdown

4h | Panorama
Abu Sayeed spread his hands as police fired rubber bullets, leading to his tragic death. Photos: Collected

How Abu Sayed’s wings of freedom ignited the fire of July uprising

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Open source legal advice: How Facebook groups are empowering victims of land disputes

2d | Panorama
DU students at TSC around 12:45am on 15 July 2024, protesting Sheikh Hasina’s insulting remark. Photo: TBS

‘Razakar’: The butterfly effect of a word

3d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Gopalganj clash: Army urges not to be misled by rumors

Gopalganj clash: Army urges not to be misled by rumors

6m | TBS Today
Curfew in Gopalganj until 6pm, relaxed for 3 hours

Curfew in Gopalganj until 6pm, relaxed for 3 hours

26m | TBS Today
We will go to Gopalganj again: Nahid Islam

We will go to Gopalganj again: Nahid Islam

31m | TBS Today
Khamenei calls Israel a 'Pet dog' of the US

Khamenei calls Israel a 'Pet dog' of the US

21m | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net