Former mayor Ekramul Haque Titu has been re-elected as the mayor of Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) by a significant margin. . He got 1 lakh 35 thousand 959 votes in this election. Returning Officer Belayet Hossain Chowdhury announced the results after counting the votes at Tarek Memorial Auditorium in the city at around 9:30 pm on Saturday (March 9). The total number of voters in this election was 336, 496. Of these, 163,872 were male and 172,615 are female were female voters. In addition, there were third gender voters.

Tahseen Bahar Shuchona, daughter of local MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar, has won in the Comilla City Corporation (COCC) mayoral by-election. Returning officer Farhad Hossain announced the result from Cumilla Zilla School on Saturday (March 9) night. Tahseen Bahar contested in the polls with the bus symbol and secured 48,890 votes, Her nearest rival  Monirul Haque Sakku (Table Clock symbol) got 26, 897 votes. Besides, Nizam Uddin Kaiser (Horse symbol) got 13,155 votes. Noor ur Rahman Mahmud Tanim who contested in the by-polls under the elephant symbol got 5,173 votes. The total number of voters in the city was 2,42,458. Of these, 94,115 voters exercised their voting rights. The voter turnout was 38.82 percent. There are 118,282 male and about 124,278 female voters in the city, and two third-gender voters. Of these, 94,115 voters exercised their voting rights. The voter turnout was 38.82 percent.

Losar, the Tibetan New Year, which fell on Feb 10 this time, was celebrated in the US State Department while Mayor Michael Melham of Belleville Township in the state of New Jersey flew the Tibetan national flag on Feb 9, rejecting a written objection from China’s vice consul in New York. Extending warmest wishes to all those celebrating Losar, the Tibetan New Year, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Feb 9, “On this first day of the Year of the Wood Dragon, we celebrate the strength and perseverance of the Tibetan community around the globe. Here in the United States, tens of thousands of Tibetan-Americans are integral to the preservation of Tibetans’ distinct cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage.” He wished Tibetans celebrating all across the world peace and prosperity in the new year. Meanwhile, in Belleville, Mayor Melham went on to raise the Tibetan flag, rejecting a second last-second letter, from China’s vice consul in New York, imploring the mayor to cancel the noon event at town hall, claiming the flag was a symbol of “an illegal separatist political group,” reported tapinto.net, cbsnews.com and other news outlets Feb 10. The reports said the mayor responded in writing to vice consul Huang Ping, saying: “Here in Belleville, New Jersey, we pride ourselves on fostering an environment of inclusivity and acceptance, regardless of nationality or territorial affiliation. Our community’s rich history is deeply rooted in these principles, shaping the very essence of who we are.” The mayor has added: “It’s essential to clarify that our intentions are not aimed at challenging the sovereignty of any nation. Instead, our gesture symbolizes solidarity with the Tibetan people and their aspirations for freedom and self-determination.” “We stand with the Tibetan people in their struggle for autonomy and respect for their cultural heritage,” the mayor has concluded, urging Ping to delve into Belleville’s “fascinating Chinese history, which spans over a century and a half.” The mayor has also noted that Belleville was live-streaming a Chinese New Year event on Feb 10, serving “as a testament to our deep appreciation for Chinese culture and traditions. It is a reflection of our longstanding relationship with the Chinese community.” He has also said, “As a Township, we remain committed to fostering understanding, dialogue, and mutual respect among all peoples, both locally and globally.” The mayor said his decision was not political and that he sent a respectful letter back to China’s vice consul saying the flag went up because his diverse community respects all voices, according to the cbsnews.com report. This year, the Tibetan New Year fell on the same day as the Chinese Lunar New Year.   Source: Tibetan Review

The mayor of Paris suburb L'Hay-les-Roses says his wife and one of his children were injured in the ramming. Beijing says a bus carrying Chinese tourists was attacked in Marseille.  Switzerland's Lausanne sees youth protests prompted by France riots Seven people were detained in the Swiss border city of Lausanne following protests seemingly prompted by the riots in France. Swiss police made the arrests after demonstrators caused damage to businesses. Over 100 youths gathered in the city late on Saturday. Those detained included six minors of various nationalities aged between 15 and 17. The protests came in response to several social media appeals linked to the situation in France, police said. Protesters pelted security personnel with paving stones and a Molotov cocktail, destroying several shop windows and a shop door. Tehran urges France to 'end violent treatment' of protesters Iran has called on the French government to "end the violent treatment of its people" as protests against the death of 17-year-old Nahel drag on for a fifth day. “As in the past, we advise the French government and police to take into account the demands of the protesters while exercising restraint and avoiding violence,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Twitter. Kanaani also called on Iranian citizens to avoid "unnecessary trips" to France, advising Iranian nationals already in the European country to steer clear of "conflict areas." Iranian authorities have for months cracked down on nationwide protests prompted by the death in custody of a Kurdish 22-year-old, Jina Mahsa Amini, after she was arrested for breaching the country's strict dress code for women. The EU has imposed sanctions on Iran over the clampdown. French mayor accuses protesters of ramming a car into his home A French mayor of a southern suburb of Paris has accused the rioters of ramming a car into his family home, injuring his spouse and one of his two young children. Mayor Vincent Jeanbrun of L'Hay-les-Roses said the attackers also started a fire. The attacks took place while his family slept, he added. "Last night a milestone was reached in horror and disgrace," he wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. "It was an attempted murder of unspeakable cowardice." Jeanbrun said he was at the Town Hall at the time of the incident, in the early hours of Sunday, "as I had been for three nights." China complains of tourist bus attack Beijing has meanwhile complained to Paris about an attack on a bus carrying Chinese tourists in the southern city of Marseille, a flashpoint of the violence. China's Consulate General in Marseille filed a formal complaint, saying rioters smashed the windows of the bus, causing minor injuries. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the attack occurred on Thursday. The tourists have since left France, the consulate said. The consulate called on Chinese nationals planning to visit France to exercise caution and vigilance. Over 700 arrested overnight Police arrested 719 people amid the riots overnight on Saturday, the French Interior Ministry said. The ministry added that 45 police personnel, of some 45,000 deployed for days to control the violence, were injured. It did not provide a toll for the injured rioters. The ministry saluted the security personnel's "resolute action," saying it has led to a "calmer night." Protesters faced off with police last night in Paris's affluent shopping street Champs-Elysees, with hundreds of officers using batons and shields to guard the street's iconic boutiques. Some 2,800 have been so far detained, since the riots which started over the police fatal shooting of a 17-year-old driver of Algerian roots at a traffic stop last Tuesday. Why are people protesting in France? The protests were sparked by the death of 17-year-old Nahel. The teenage driver was shot and killed by a police officer at close range at a traffic stop in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday. He was of Algerian origin. The teenager's death prompted unrest, clashes and arson attacks in several Paris suburbs on Tuesday night. The unrest expaned nationwide with nightly protests and riots often taking a violent turn. Protesters aim to highlight the discrimination, and often violence, they say minorities in France face at the hands of the police.  French President Emmanuel Macron has described the shooting incident as "inexcusable" but has also spoken out against rioting and the violence. Law enforcement responded by deploying large police forces to major cities, and arresting thousands.  The 17-year-old Nahel was buried on Saturday, following a Muslim funeral in in Nanterre attended by friends, family and supporters of the protest movement who went to pay their respects.  Previously, his mother told France 5 TV that she was angry at the officer who killed her son but not at the police in general. "He saw a little Arab-looking kid, he wanted to take his life," the mother said. Nanterre Mayor Patrick Jarry said France needed to "push for changes'' in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Naeemur Rehman, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief announced on Monday that his party would protest the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government’s alleged use of force to win the Karachi mayoral election on June 23 (Friday) in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad, reported Dawn. He said, “It will be a massive protest and we will question the ECP about the polls it held in Karachi (….) the ECP will have to declare the election invalid and rectify all its mistakes,” as per a report published in a Pakistan-daily. After Murtaza Wahab won a close race for mayor of Karachi last week, the JI and PPP have been at odds. In contrast, the JI had the backing of 61 PTI members, bringing the predicted number of votes for Rehman to 192. The PPP had joined forces with the PML-N and JUI-F, increasing their combined strength to 173. Wahab received all 173 votes that were anticipated, while Rehman only received 160 because 30 union council members chose not to participate in the voting procedure. The provincial government, according to the JI, allegedly forced PTI members into rejecting the elections. On June 17, the party also observed “Black Day,” and protests were organised all throughout the nation. Rehman, while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Monday said that the party was mulling taking a convoy of protesters from Karachi to the federal capital on June 23. He asserted, “We can’t accept these fake and rigged elections,” adding that the PPP had “unlawfully held Karachi’s mandate to keep its donkey network active.” Rehman added that the ECP had entirely failed to conduct free and fair elections in Karachi, questioning how the body would be able to hold polls across the country. “This was just a trailer, the entire film is yet to be unveiled.” The JI Karachi chief also pledged that his party would take every legal and constitutional path to bring the truth before the public, Dawn reported. 

Awami League nominated candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque has been elected mayor for the third time in the Khulna City Corporation election.  On Monday night, June 12, the returning officer Md Humayun Kabir announced the result. The result shows that Talukder Abdul Khaleque got 154,825 votes. His closest rival Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Maulana Abdul Awal got 60064 votes. That is, Talukder Abdul Khaleque won by getting 94,761 more votes.  Total five mayoral candidates contested in the Khulna City Corporation election. 136 candidates competed for councilor post of 31 general wards and 39 candidates for councilor post of 10 reserved wards.  Total voters are 5 lakh 35 thousand 529 people. Among them 2 lakh 66 thousand 696 women and 2 lakh 68 thousand 833 men.

Awami League nominated candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) has been elected as the new mayor in the Barishal City Corporation election. He achieved a landslide victory as per unofficial results. On Monday night, June 12, the returning officer Md Humayun Kabir announced the result. The results show that Abul Khair Abdullah earned 87,752 votes. His nearest rival, Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Syed Faizul Karim got 34,345 votes. That is, Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) won by getting 53,407 more votes.  Earlier, the voting started from 8 am and ended 4 pm. Total voters are 2 lakh 76 thousand 298 in 126 centres in 30 wards in Barisahl City. Among them, 1 lakh 37 thousand 489 male voters and 1 lakh 38 thousand 809 female voters.

Former Mayor Jahangir Alam's mother Zayeda Khatun has won the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election, setting a record.  Zayeda Khatun got total 2 lakh 38 thousand 934 votes.  Zayeda Khatun's main rival Awami League-backed candidate Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan got 2 lakh 22 thousand 737 votes.  The people of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) got the first woman city mayor through the victory of Zayeda Khatun. On Thursday, May 25, continuous polling took place from 8 am in the morning to 4 pm in the afternoon.  Votes are taken in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). After the formation of City Corporation in 2013 this is the Gazipur's third election. The polling of Gazipur City Corporation election ended peacefully.  People all over the country were keep an eye on the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election results.  Who will win this election? Who will be the third city mayor of Gazipur? Finally putting an end to all the speculations, the citizens of Gazipur city got a non-political person as their city mayor. The candidates did not complain of irregularities in the election. Although polling started on Thursday morning, no unexpected incident was reported. The Election Commission (EC) was very active throughout the election.  Polling was monitored by CCTV cameras from the Agargaon's election office.  The total number of voters in Gazipur City Corporation is 11 lakh 79 thousand 476 with an area of about 330 square kilometres and a population of more than 30 lakh.  Among them 5 lakh 92 thousand 762 male voters, 5 lakh 86 thousand 696 female voters and 18 transgender voters.

Toronto Mayor John Tory has stepped down after it was reported that he had an affair with a staff member. The mayor of Toronto, Canada's largest city, has resigned after acknowledging that he had an affair with a former staff member. John Tory announced his departure in a late night media conference on Friday and said that the relationship had ended earlier this year and the employee had left city hall. The resignation came shortly after the Toronto Star newspaper reported that the 68-year-old moderate conservative had an affair with a much younger staff member. "I recognize that permitting this relationship to develop was a serious error in judgment on my part,'' Tory said. "It came at a time when Barb, my wife of 40-plus years and I were enduring many lengthy periods apart while I carried out my responsibilities during the pandemic," he said. "As a result, I have decided I will step down as Mayor so I can take the time to reflect on my mistakes and to do the work of rebuilding the trust of my family," Tory added. Tory did not identify the staffer in his statement. The woman was reportedly a 31-year-old adviser. Tory was first elected mayor in 2014 and recently won a third term. He said in his statement that he is "deeply sorry'' to the people of Toronto.

Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa has been re-elected as the mayor of Rangpur City Corporation. He got a total of 1 lakh 46 thousand 798 votes. His nearest rival, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Amiruzzaman Piyal, got 49,892 votes.  On the other hand, Awami League nominated candidate Lutfa Dalia got 22 thousand 306 votes, he is in the fourth place in the competition. On the other hand, Awami League's rebel candidate Latifur Rahman is in the third position with 33 thousand 833 votes.