The candidates have finished their respective programmes on Monday, the last day of the Chattogram City Corporation CCC (CCC) election campaign. Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has made all preparations for peaceful holding of the polls.
On the last day of the campaign, miking and processions continued throughout the city in support of the mayoral and councillor candidates.
A total of 237 candidates are contesting in the CCC election. The main rivalry for the post of mayor is between Awami League (AL) nominated with Boat symbol M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and BNP candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain with Paddy Sheaf symbol.
Among the two main rival mayoral candidates in the election, Awami League's Rezaul Karim Chowdhury expected a festive vote. M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury held a series of meetings with election agents since morning.
But the BNP-nominated mayoral candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain alleged that the police and the administration were trying to snatch his victory. Dr Shahadat Hossain held a press conference at the party's Nasimon Bhaban office in the morning and alleged that party leaders and workers were arrested.
A day before the election, a crowd of leaders and activists appeared at the BNP office Nasimon Bhaban on Monday morning. They alleged that police raided their houses in many areas last night.
At eleven o'clock in the morning, the BNP's mayoral candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain told a press conference that leaders, activists and supporters could not stay at home in the face of the police crackdown.
He said at least 75 leaders and activists had been arrested in the past one week, including 25 in the last 24 hours. The BNP candidate also alleged that the Awami League candidate was gathering outsiders to occupy the polling station.
Awami League mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury had been holding meetings with party leaders and workers since Monday morning on the last day of the campaign. He also met his own polling agents in charge of the polling station.
Speaking to the Bangladesh Post about the overall situation, he said there was enough enthusiasm among the residents for the election. Rezaul Karim also responded to the BNP candidate's allegations regarding police harassment and gathering of outsiders.
Mr Karim said, the task of the BNP is just to complain, they are now a complaint party. Being unable to take advantage of the polling station, they are making various allegations, which have no basis.
Several central leaders and entertainment stars have campaigned for Rezaul's boat throughout the day.
Candidate Rezaul Karim and his party campaigners called upon the people of the city to go to the polling centre on Wednesday morning and vote for the Boat symbol.
The Election Commission arranged trial voting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in 737 centres, that was practised in every centre till 4 PM Monday. Meanwhile, the EC source said the preparation for the voting is going on smoothly.
Returning officer Mohammad Hasanuzzaman told the reporters that the steps have been taken so that voters can go to the polling centre without any fear or hindrance.
He said that on the day of polling, 50 striking teams of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and elite force RAB will be deployed in the city city. Thirteen members of law enforcers will be deployed in each centre.
Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) said, “When we receive any information of clashes the police are moving first on the spot to control the situation.”
“If someone complains in writing, we take action according to the law,” he said, we are trying to treat everyone equally and fairly.”
There is no public holiday in Chattogram on the polling day and restrictions have been imposed on the movement of certain vehicles.
Although the situation was calm at the beginning of the campaign it started to heat up just a week before the elections. In the last couple of days, there have been clashes between the opponents in different places of the city.
So far, the contesting candidates have registered a total of 70 complaints with the Regional Election Commission office. But the administration including the police have found only a few of these allegations to be true.
Mentioning Chattogram is completely safe for the voters, he said that everyone should come to the polling station and exercise their voting right without fear.
