NCC polls: Campaigning begins

Mayoral and councillor candidates of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls yesterday formally launched their campaigns hours after getting electoral symbols from the returning officer (RO).

Ruling Awami League (AL)-nominated mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy, who got the “boat” symbol, started campaigning from the city's Shiddhirganj area around 4:00pm when several hundreds of campaigners accompanied her.

During receiving electoral symbol around 11:30am, Ivy told reporters, “I will accept the verdict of the people whatever it is.”

Announcing her electoral slogan “Noy Shongka, Noy Voy; Sohor Hobe Shantimoy' (No apprehension, no fear; the city will be peaceful), Ivy urged the party men to work together for ensuring victory.

BNP-nominated candidate Shakhawat Hossain, who got the electoral symbol of “sheaf of paddy”, started his campaign from the city's Bandar area around 3:30pm.

Talking to reporters in the morning, Shakhawat reiterated his allegation that Ivy was violating electoral code of conduct, but he did not give any explanation on how Ivy violated the code.

When asked why he did not file any written complaint with the RO against the violation, Shakhawat replied that it is the duty of RO to remain vigil against rule violation.

“But I want to keep trust on the election commission. I hope they (EC) will not make the election questionable like previous polls. I urge the commission to take all the necessary measures to ensure a fair election,” he said.

Shakhawat hoped that he would definitely win the polls, if election was held in free and fair manner.

RO Nuruzzaman Talukder distributed the symbols among the mayoral and councilor candidates at Narayanganj Club.

Talukder told reporters, “We have formed a cell to monitor law and order.”

On December 8, Election Commissioner Zabed Ali will visit Narayanganj and hold dialogue with the contesting candidates, he informed.

Besides, the EC would hold a meeting with top officials of home ministry, and law enforcement and intelligence agencies in NEC auditorium on December 10 to discuss law and order situation during the polls.

Earlier on November 27, EC's Secretary Muhammad Abdullah at a press conference said decision on deployment of army would be taken at the December 10 meeting.

Meanwhile, other mayoral candidates Rashed Ferdous of Kollyan Party got electoral symbol “wrist watch”; Kamal Prodhan of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) got “umbrella”; Advocate Mahbubur Rahman of Biplobi Workers Party got “spade”; Mufti Masum Billah of Islami Andolon Bangladesh “hand-fan” and Mufti Ezharul Huq of Islami Oikkya Jote got “Minar”.

A total of seven aspirants are contesting for mayoral posts, while 156 for general councillor posts and 38 for reserved (women) councillor posts, said polling officials.

Yesterday afternoon, AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafar Ullah, at a meeting at the AL's district unit office in the city's No.2 rail gate area, warned of taking action against the party men, if anyone does not work in favour of the party-nominated candidate.