<i>Voters demand manifestoes</i>
Voters from different classes of people in Nilphamari, Jaldhaka and Saidpur municipalities want that mayoral candidates publish manifestos inscribing their development programmes and measures to be taken to solve problems in respective municipalities, if elected.
The candidates, however, are ignoring the issue ahead of the January 12 elections in those municipalities under Nilphamari district on the plea that the Election Commission did not give instruction in this regard.
During pre-election campaign, the candidates usually make lots of commitments of development works and to remain beside local people in well and woes but once elected, the incumbents forget their commitments and try to remain away from people, said several voters.
“Contestants in any kind of election should make written commitment to the voters indicating their development plans and programmes so that the elected candidates feel obligation to implement those,” said Gabul Saqlaen, secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujon), an organisation working for establishing good governance in the country.
“It has become a tradition that candidates in any election usually make verbal commitments for development, fair treatment to all etc. After the election is over, the elected candidates, except a few, tend to forget their promises. Local residents even do not find most of the elected representatives beside them,” said Golam Mostofa, general secretary of district college teachers association.
“If the mayoral candidates publish their manifesto for the voters, it will help to ensure transparency of the candidates as well as strengthen democratic system,” said Md Selim, a member of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
When contacted, AKM Aminul Haque, a mayoral candidate in Nilphamari municipality, said if the Election Commission gave directions to publish manifesto of candidates then he would be obliged to do so but it was not done.
Kabir Chowdhury, a mayoral candidate who is contesting for second consecutive time from Jaldhaka municipality, said, “The voters usually do not make mistake to vote for the candidates who have credibility and acceptance. Personality, character and love for people are great manifesto.”
Sekandar Ali, district election officer, said, “The Election Commission's code of conduct for the candidates in municipality election does not have any clear guideline about whether the candidates would publish their manifesto in written.”
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