Guard poll centres till declaration of official results

Accusing pro-Awami League men of intimidating BNP adherents, Chittagong city mayor candidate M Manjur Alam yesterday urged the people to keep guarding the polling stations on election day until the results are declared.

He did not specify any threat but said, "It is not sufficient to only vote for me."

The BNP-backed contender made the call at separate meetings with salt and construction workers at his Kattali residence, where Laban Sramik Dal Convener Md Shah Alam and Nirman Sramik Union Organising Secretary Md Hanif were present among others. 

Though the official campaign for the April 28 polls kicked off on Tuesday, Manju is set to start his personal field-level visits today after allotment of election symbols.

However, BNP Vice-chairman Abdullah Al Noman and Chittagong city President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury visited door to door seeking votes for Manju.

Addressing a street rally in Halishahar B Block area, Noman said that through ballots, the people would convey "no confidence in the government en masse".

"...the people will send a red signal to the government so that it is forced to hold a [parliamentary] election under a caretaker administration."

He urged the Election Commission to create a level-playing field.