Voting in the elections to 55 municipalities began on Sunday morning in the fourth phase of the local body polls.

The balloting that began at 8am will continue till 4pm without any break.

The Election Commission completed necessary preparations to hold the polls in a free and fair manner.

Of the municipalities, voting is being held in 26 through traditional ballot papers while in the rest 29 using electronic voting machines.

There are 221 mayoral candidates, 2,073 general councillor contenders and 618 women contestants for reserved seats in the election race in the 55 municipalities.

Members of police, Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh were deployed in the municipalities to fend off any untoward incident during the balloting.

Besides, sufficient executive and judicial magistrates are there in the field.