Mayoral campaigns shift into higher gear in capital

Leading mayoral candidates in the two city corporations in Dhaka spent a hectic day yesterday, the fifth day of campaigns, visiting voters of places from slums to posh neighbourhoods.

Annisul Huq, Awami League-backed candidate for Dhaka North, announced his manifesto and started the day's campaign from Sattola slum at Mohakhali.

On the other hand, his main challenger Tabith Siddique, backed by BNP, passed about three hours meeting the residents of Korail slum before moving to Banani and Gulshan.

Talking to journalists, he hoped that he would win if the administration and the Election Commission worked "neutrally".  With 60 cases against him, BNP-backed heavyweight mayoral candidate for South, Mirza Abbas, is yet to appear before the public as he has not got bail. Campaigning on his behalf, his wife Afroza Abbas said he had communication with the party's leaders and activists though he was in a hideout.

In South, his rival from AL, Sayeed Khokon, visited Dhupkhola, Sutrapur and Ramna. During his campaign, Khokon showed the real hilsa, his electoral symbol, to the voters, which is a violation of the electoral code of conduct.

Khokon also joined a views exchange meeting between party-backed candidates and Dhaka city AL at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), where scuffles took place between supporters of the councillor candidates who got party blessings and of those who did not.

Meanwhile, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh supported Mahi B Chowdhury to run for mayorship in North.

ADARSHA DHAKA ANDOLON

Prof Emajuddin Ahmed-led Adarsha Dhaka Andolon, a pro-BNP citizens' platform, will unveil the BNP-backed mayoral candidates' manifestos today or tomorrow, said sources.

The platform is likely to put emphasis on keeping the administration corruption-free, building modern communication and traffic systems, public toilets, and covering all open manholes, among others.