Next national elections: Symbol allocation for 20 Dhaka seats finalised

The symbol allocation process for the upcoming national elections was completed across 20 constituencies of Dhaka district yesterday.

Candidates, however, voiced concerns to returning officers and demanded a level playing field ahead of the polls.

Symbols were distributed at three venues -- the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office, the District Commissioner’s Office, and the Election Training Institute in Agargaon.

Party nominees received their party symbols, while independent aspirants were given symbols of their choice.

At the Divisional Commissioner’s Office, symbols were allocated among 137 candidates from 13 constituencies in Dhaka city.

The candidates had pledged to abide by the election code of conduct, and cooperate with the election officials to ensure free, fair polls, said Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, returning officer and also Dhaka divisional commissioner.

Independent candidate Ishaq Sarkar (Dhaka-7) expressed concern over use of arms and muscle power ahead of the elections unless illegal weapons are not fully recovered.

Nasiruddin Patwari, NCP chief coordinator and candidate from Dhaka-8, alleged that BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman had violated election rules by promising flats to fire victims of Korail slum.

Jamaat’s Dhaka-6 candidate Abdul Mannan alleged that all election offices in his constituency were rented in buildings owned by BNP candidate Ishraque Hossain. “I submitted a complaint in this regard on January 14, but the office could not produce the document,” he said.

At the Election Training Institute, symbols were distributed among 17 candidates from Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15.

Pointing finger at Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP’s candidate Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton (Dhaka-15) alleged that one party sent women door-to-door asking for NID and bKash numbers.

Jamaat’s assistant general secretary Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, who represented the party’s ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, rejected BNP’s allegations, terming those “completely false”.

At the District Commissioner’s Office, symbols were distributed to 32 candidates from five constituencies.

The candidates called for a free, fair, credible and impartial election.

Rezaul Karim, district commissioner and RO, urged all candidates and supporters to strictly follow the election code of conduct.