<i>Yearn for change: New faces to dominate CCC</i>
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) election held of June 17 reflected the city dwellers' yearn for change.
Apart from bringing about change in the mayoral post after long seventeen years, the voters also elected new faces to as many as 24, out of 41, councillor posts.
However, there was only one change in the 14 posts reserved for the female councillors in the 41 wards under CCC.
In the mayoral post opposition BNP-backed Mohammad Manjur Alam Manju defeated his once mentor and Awami League (AL)-supported ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, who had been elected mayor thrice in a row and had been in the helm of CCC for long 17 years since January 31, 1994.
Of those who won the councillor posts in May 9, 2005 CCC election, Manjur got elected mayor, six refrained from contesting the election and another passed away.
Of the rest 33, fourteen succeeded in retaining councillor posts while 19 got defeated.
Those who were able to retain councillor posts for the consecutive fourth term are Sayed Golam Haider Mintu of No 16 Chawk Bazar ward, Abdul Malek of No 22 Enayet Bazar ward and Zahirul Alam Dobhash (the acting mayor) of No 33 Firingee Bazar ward.
Twenty-four new faces elected in the 27 councillor posts are Mohammad Shahjahan of No 1 South Pahartali ward, Farid Ahmad Chowdhury of No 2 Jalalabad ward, Mohammad Azam of No 5 Mohora Ward, Md Hasan Liton of No 6 East Sholoshahar ward, Shamsuzzaman Helali of No 8 Shulakbahar ward, Abdus Satter Salim at No 9 North Pahartali ward, Niseruddin Ahmed of No 10 North Kattoli, Morshed Akter Chowdhury of No 11 South Kattoli, Babul Haq of No 12 Sarai para, Mahfuzul Alam of No 13 Pahartali ward, Jafrul Islam Chowdhury of No 17 West Bakolia, Mohammad Tayab of No 18 East Bakolia, Engineer Bijoy Kumar Chowdhury Kishan of No 21 Jamal Khan ward, Sirajul Islam of No 24 north Agrabad ward, Abdus Sabur Liton of No 25 Rampur ward, Zahir Ahmad Chowdhury of No 30 East Madarbari, Didarul Alam of No 31 Alkaran ward, Mohammad Ismail Bali of No 34 Patharghata ward, Nurul Haq of No 35 Baxmirhat ward, Hasan Murad of No 37 North Middle Halishahar, Golam Mohammad Chowdhury of No 38 South Middle Halishahar, Sarfaraz Quader of No 39 South Halishahar, Abdul Barek of No 40 North Patenga, and Md Nurul Abser of No 41 South Patenga.
Change also marked the election in terms of the candidates' political affiliation or backing.
BNP-backed candidates dominated the councillor posts winning 20 wards while ruling AL-backed candidates won 18 wards, Jamaat-backed candidates in two wards and independent candidate in one ward.
In May 9, 2005 CCC election, AL-backed and AL rebel candidates won 25 wards, BNP- backed and rebel candidates 11 wards, Jamaat candidate one ward while independent candidates four wards.
In that election AL-supported candidates and the party rebels bagged 12 of the 14 seats reserved for the women while BNP-backed candidates won two seats.
However, this year there was only change in female councillor posts with new face Zannatul Ferdous Poppy of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal elected in No 11 seat reserved for the women (CCC ward No 28, 29 and 36) defeating AL-backed Sabiha Musa.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments