Khulna Correspondent : Three ward councillors have been elected as panel mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) who will act as mayor in absence of the KCC Mayor in order of serial. S M Rafiuddin Ahmed, councillor of ward no 27, has been elected as number one member of the panel Mayor. SM Rafiuddin Ahmed is elder brother of current army Chief SM Shafiuddin Ahmed. S M Khurshid Ahmed Tona, councillor of ward no 13, elected as number two member and Memori Sufia Rahman Shunu, councillor reserved ward no 5, elected as number three member of the panel mayor. All three were elected without contest. Among the three only Shunu was reelected and other two were elected for the first time.

According to section 20 of Khulna City Corporation Act-2009 schedule for election of panel mayor was announced on October 25. Nomination papers were submitted on October 31 and last date for withdrawal of candidature was Thursday (November 2). Election Commissioner Loskar Tazul Islam, KCC chief officer, declared the above mentioned three councillors elected as other candidates withdrew their candidatures.

KCC chief revenue officer Sanzida Begum performed the duty of Returning Officer while executive magistrate Jannatul Afroz Sharna as Assistant Returning Officer, chief engineer Moshiuzzaman Khan as presiding officer and chief planning officer Abir Ul Zabbar as assistant presiding officer in the election of panel mayor.