Votes likely to be cast for parties, not individuals in Mirsarai

Awami League (AL) has managed to persuade a member to quit the Raozan municipality polls, clearing the path for its mayor candidate, while apparently it is not bothered with two who quit the party to compete with the party-nominated contestant in Sitakunda.

Meanwhile, although hectic campaigns are ongoing centring the Mirsarai municipality polls in Chittagong by the mayoral aspirants and their followers from early morning to midnight, the voters said they would exercise their franchise mainly based on the symbols of the mayoral candidates, not by judging the contestants themselves. And the main contest would be between "boat" and "sheaf of paddy", they added.  

RAOZAN-SITAKUNDA

Saiful Islam Chowdhury Rana announced quitting the race on Thursday following a meeting with AL organising secretaries Bir Bahadur and Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Health and Welfare Affairs Secretary Bodiuzzaman Bhuiyan Dablu in Chittagong Circuit House.

With AL nominating Debashish Palit, Saiful, son of AL's Raozan upazila unit President Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury Beby and a member of the unit, had been campaigning as an independent candidate.

"I want to remain respectful towards the decision of central leaders. I do not want to take a decision which could tarnish my father's image," Saiful told The Daily Star.

In Sitakunda, AL nominated Badiul Alam to contest for the municipal mayor post. Its Sitakunda municipality unit member Safiul Alam, also the incumbent mayor, and vice-president Siraj-ud-Daula resigned and announced contesting as independent candidates.

They did not want nomination from AL and their role will not have any impact in the election, AL's Chittagong (north) unit General Secretary MA Salam told The Daily Star.

"They have no relation with the party so why would the central leaders take any decision about them," questioned Salam.

MIRSARAI

Awami League (AL) nominated Md Gias Uddin, president of its Mirsarai municipality unit, to contest with its "boat" symbol. Meanwhile, BNP nominated its Mirsarai municipality unit Member Secretary AZM Rafiqul Islam Parvez to contest with the "sheaf of paddy". 

The remaining mayor candidate for the December 30 polls is Mirza Mohammad Arif Mayeen Uddin of Islami Andolon Bangladesh. His electoral symbol is "hand fan".

Amidst posters and banners, campaigns ongoing over loudspeakers, gossips and speculations, an electoral ambience was observed during a visit to the municipality on Thursday.

The three mayor candidates are going door to door, pledging to do many things.

These include paving more streets, repairing dilapidated ones, protecting low lying areas from floods, erecting streetlights in every ward, conducting infrastructural development, increasing healthcare facilities, creating an environment of political coexistence and uprooting corruption.   

During a conversation in a tea stall in Ambaria area under ward 3, a number of residents told The Daily Star that despite the development pledges, people would cast their votes based on the symbols.

Whether the election will be free, fair and neutral, a power tiller driver, Mohammad Joynal, said he hoped for one. Md Joynal, a businessman of the sadar area, echoed them.  

Gias claimed that AL carried out immense development in the area and that he was getting a lot of response in favour of his "boat" symbol and was hopeful of victory.

Mayeen too stated to be getting a good response while Parvez said he hoped to win if the polls were held in a free, fair and neutral manner.  He alleged that the ruling party men were tearing off his posters, banners and leaflets and obstructing and attacking his campaigners while the Election Commission was not taking steps despite being provided with complaints.

Refuting the involvement of the ruling party men, Gias said the attacks and obstructions were a result of internal feuds of BNP.     

Zia Ahmed Sumon, the returning officer, said steps would be taken after ongoing investigations were complete.    

Mirsarai municipality came into being in 2001. In the first election in 2002, pro-BNP Abul Faruk Mia became mayor and in 2011, pro-AL Md Shahjahan was elected.