On the eve of the elections to the two city corporations in capital Dhaka, all the mayoral and ward councillor candidates remained busy in the campaign making lots of last-minute promises to their voters.
It was noticed that most of the pledges made by the candidates from different parties through their electoral manifestos are almost similar.
Yesterday, (Thursday) was the last date for the formal election campaigning as per the rule of the Election Commission. The election will be held on Saturday, February 1.
All the mayoral candidates were seen making promises focused on making the capital Dhaka modern, free from traffic jam, ensuring securities in public transports, mosquito free, environment friendly, removing of water stagnancy problems, development of drainage system, development of a proper wastage management system, recovery of the canals grabbed by the illegal occupiers, freeing the playgrounds and arrangement of recreational facilities.
This time a total of 13 candidates are contesting for the two mayoral posts. Of them, seven candidates are contesting for the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayoral post while six others are contesting for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
As per the electoral manifestos, among other promises, AL nominated DSCC Mayoral candidate Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh promised for the construction of separate lanes as walkways while BNP nominated DNCC Mayoral candidate Tabith Awal promised for the plantation of mosquito preventive trees in the capital.
Besides, Awami League nominated DNCC Mayoral candidate Atiqul Islam and BNP nominated DSCC Mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain made almost identical promises. Both promised to introduce electric buses in capital.
On the last day of formal election campaign, Awami League nominated DSCC Mayoral candidate Fazle Nur Taposh on Thursday alleged that BNP was hatching conspiracies for rigging at 170 voting centres. He expressed his apprehension during his campaign at the capitals’ Gopibagh.
Taposh also sought for proper steps by the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies so that voting takes place peacefully. Taposh was accompanied by huge number of his party men, activists and supporters.
BNP Nominated DSCC candidate Ishraque Hossain also remained very busy with his election campaign on the eve of the polling day. He visited voters of different areas in the DSCC. He urged the city dwellers to vote for him.
On the last day of formal election campaign, AL nominated DNCC Mayoral candidate Atiqul Islam on Thursday carried out his electoral campaign at the capital’s Bhashantek slum area. During his campaign, the incumbent DNCC Mayor sought vote for him and distributed leaflets among the slum dwellers. He was accompanied by a large number of his activists and supporters.
A rally was also held there where Atiqul promised before the slum dwellers that no eviction drive will be conducted without the rehabilitation to the slum dwellers.
BNP Nominated DNCC Mayoral candidate Tabith Awal, however, expressed his apprehension over the faire polls. On the last of his campaign, he took part in view exchange meeting at the National Press Club where he said, “I am not sure of that my voters will be able to reach the voting centres. He also promised further to implement his electoral manifesto made before the voters.
According to the EC, a total of 758 candidates are contesting for two Mayoral, 129 general Ward Councillor posts and 43 reserved seats for women.
Apart from AL and BNP nominated mayoral candidates, other mayoral candidates in the DSCC are Mohammad Saifuddin Ahmed Milon from Jatiya Party Abdur Rahman from Islami Andolan, Bahrane Sultan Bahar from National People’s Party (NPP), Akteruzzaman alias Ayatullah from Bangladesh Congress and Abdus Samad Sujan from Gano Front.
Four other candidates contesting for the DNCC mayoral post are Ahmmed Sahedul Huq Rubel from Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud gfrom Islami Andolan, Anisur Rahman Dewan from National People’s Party (NPP) and Shahin Khan from PDP.
According to the EC, there are around 54 lakh voters in two city corporations. Of them, 30.36 lakh under 54 wards in DNCC and 23.67 lakh under 75 wards in DSCC. In the upcoming elections, the number of possible polling stations will be 2,500 in the two cities.
