The BNP has been raising “false allegations” over the Gazipur City Corporation polls to make it controversial, said Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Jahangir Alam.
His comment came as voting in the Gazipur city polls started in 425 centres at 8 am on Tuesday.
"I’ll accept whatever the people decide; I believe people in Gazipur will choose the Awami League thanks to its development work in Gazipur. I want to win their confidence to serve them,” Jahangir told reporters after casting his vote at Kanaiya Government Primary School Centre.
He claimed that the BNP has been raising “false allegations” only to create controversy over the Gazipur polls, when journalists drew his attention to BNP candidate Hasan Uddin Sarker's claim that his agents were driven out of polling centres.
However, none of the BNP agents were seen in Kanaiya Govt Primary School centre after the voting started.
"Their agents didn't show up; I don't know why,” Presiding Officer Kanzurul Islam told the media.
Jahangir said he advised his supporters not to engage in any violence.
The first Gazipur City Corporation election was held in 2013 with BNP candidate MA Mannan winning the mayoral post over the Awami League's Azmat Ullah Khan, reports bdnews24.
Although Azmat bagged the nomination, former Chhatra League leader Jahangir Alam had also applied for nomination against the party decision.
Later, Jahangir withdrew himself due to the intervention by senior leaders. The former Chhatra League leader has won the nomination this time to contend against Hasan Uddin Sarker chosen by the BNP.