Polls campaign gaining pace
Election campaigns are gaining momentum in Dhaka and Chittagong as the Awami League and the BNP activists are rallying behind their party-backed mayor candidates in the elections to three city corporations.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is all set to hit the campaign trail this week to drum up support for candidates the BNP is backing. She will introduce the mayor and the councillor candidates at a ceremony at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Ramna on Monday, said party insiders.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. After formally starting electioneering in Dhaka, the BNP chief would go to Chittagong to campaign for BNP-backed mayor candidate M Manjur Alam, they said.
Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, convener of Adarsha Dhaka Andolan, a platform of pro-BNP and Jamaat professionals, said the BNP men who are still in hiding, as they fearing arrest and harassment, are expected to show up in public once Khaleda starts campaigning.
Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, a member of the platform's steering committee, said on behalf of the BNP-backed mayoral candidates they would make leaflets and manifestos public tomorrow.
The Andolon released the names of the councillors it is backing in the polls to the two city corporations in Dhaka yesterday afternoon.
The ruling Awami League in their campaign would mainly highlight the government's development activities in Dhaka and service delivery like uninterrupted power and gas supply.
They would also use the BNP-Jamaat's violence and petrol bomb attacks in recent times to woo voters.
The AL would start distribution of leaflets among the voters today, sources said.
"We have almost completed the formation of election centre committees [to help voters] in consultation with local MPs," said Faruk Khan, international affairs secretary of the AL.
AL Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said Faruk and Abdur Razzaque, in-charge of AL's team in Dhaka North City Corporation, would be countering Khaleda's speeches on the elections.
AL President Sheikh Hasina would also be countering the BNP chief's political statements, he added.
Pro-liberation forces including artists, cultural personalities, poets, writers, singers, film stars, and even cricketers would be engaged in wooing voters for AL favourites, Khalid added.
TABITH STARTS CAMPAIGN
Tabith Awal and M Manjur Alam Manju, BNP-blessed mayor candidates for DNCC and Chittagong City Corporation, formally launched their campaigns yesterday three days after their main rival candidates began theirs.
Eldest son of businessman Abdul Awal Mintoo, Tabith offered Jum'a prayers at Karwan Bazar Ambar Shah Mosque before starting his campaign.
"I hope all will extend their cooperation and support," he said.
Manjur yesterday went to different areas in Chittagong and addressed street rallies.
"In the last five years, I have tried to work for the people and development of the city. I want to continue the development and ensure amenities to the people," he said.
BNP MEN STILL SCARED
BNP mayor aspirant of Dhaka South City Corporation Mirza Abbas and many BNP-backed councillor candidates did not appear in person at the returning officer's offices to get their electoral symbols, fearing arrest.
Mustafizur Rahman, president of BNP's Airport thana unit and a councillor aspirant of Ward-1 of the DNCC, sent a representative to collect his symbol.
He is accused in several cases.
"Many candidates did not go today [yesterday] fearing arrest, as they have cases filed against them," he said.
Nasima Banu, wife of Abdus Shahed Montu, president of BNP's Sutrapur unit and a councillor aspirant of DSCC Ward-44, said, "As he [Montu] is behind bars, I sent one of my brothers-in-law to the office of the returning officer for getting the symbol."
However, a few candidates showed up at the RO's office in person.
Akhter Ali, former president of BNP's Ward-22 unit, and a councillor aspirant in the same ward of DNCC, went to the RO's office with two of his supporters.
"As there is no case filed against me, I have no problem regarding movement. If I can campaign until the electioneering ends, I hope to win," he said.
NO FAVOURS FOR ABBAS
When AL-backed DSCC mayor candidate Sayeed Khokon and five other candidates demanded "hilsa" as their electoral symbol, the returning officer asked the candidates to solve the issue through talks.
As none of the candidates moved for solving the issue, Khokon requested other aspirants to let him have the symbol since his father, Mohammad Hanif, had used it in his mayor elections.
The other aspirants agreed to let go of their claim on the symbol.
However, BNP-backed Mirza Abbas and five other mayor candidates wanted "elephant" as their symbol and the returning officer in this case too requested them to talk.
When Abbas' representative asked the other candidates to let Abbas have "elephant", they refused.
Lawyer Sanaullah Miah, on behalf of Abbas, later requested the returning officer to allocate "mug" for Abbas.
AL-backed Annisul Huq in the DNCC got "table clock" as his election symbol while his rival BNP-backed Tabith got "bus".
BNP WANTS ARMY
Convener of Dhaka Adarsha Andolan Prof Emajuddin Ahmed yesterday demanded that the Election Commission deploy the army seven days prior to the elections in Dhaka.
At a seminar in the Jatiya Press Club, he said it should be done so that voters could cast their votes and the campaign could be run safely.
"We as well as the BNP have taken the city corporation election as a challenge, and an opportunity has come to us to teach the government a good lesson," said the former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University.
He asked the young leaders and activists of the BNP to keep an eye on polling centres and ballot boxes after casting their votes.
"You will carry out your responsibilities. Our victory is certain."
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