Baskets of pledges from candidates

With only three days left for balloting, Rangpur civic polls have taken the centre stage in national politics, with political forces exerting themselves in the closing hours of electioneering to ensure victory for their candidates. The mayoral candidates in the ensuing Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) elections have been spending a hectic time in carrying on election campaigns. As the campaign time draws near, they are going from door to door to drum up support. The election campaign for the local government election has acquired a different dimension with the participation of stalwarts of the  three major political parties—the Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jaitya Party (JP-Ershad). Nearly four lakh voters are expected to witness a three-cornered vote battle in the mayoral race among the candidates of the three major political parties. But the main contest is likely to be between Nouka (boat) and Langal (plough), the election symbols of the AL and JP, respectively, feel Rangpur city residents. There are four independent mayoral contestants this time.

The election campaigns will end on Wednesday midnight as the voting will be held on Thursday. The maiden election to the city corporation was held on December 20, 2012, under the party banner. AL-backed candidate Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu became the first mayor of Rangpur by bagging 106,255 votes and defeating his nearest rival, Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, by 28,450 votes.

Central leaders of the AL, BNP and JP have been campaigning with their respective candidates by holding discussions, street meetings and mass-contact programmes to woo voters by making several promises, including that of making Rangpur a modern city.

National political figures, including JP chairman HM Ershad and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are currently camping in Rangpur city to ensure the victory of the party-nominated candidates. During their election campaigns, AL leaders are trying to attract voters by highlighting the present government’s development activities, while BNP leaders are trying to woo the voters by projecting the Sheikh Hasina-led government’s alleged misdeeds.

Besides, JP leaders, the main opposition in Parliament, are campaigning for their party-nominated candidates by asking Rangpur city residents to vote for the plough symbol, as Rangpur is the constituency of JP chairman HM Ershad.

At a press conference yesterday in Rangpur, Ershad said that the city residents would vote for the plough on Thursday as they wanted a new city mayor.  “JP leaders and workers have already carried out a massive campaign across the city. Voters of the city corporation want a new face and that face is Mostafizar Rahaman,” he added.

The JP chief also said the election would be held peacefully and people would teach a good lesson to anyone trying to rig votes. “The plough is the symbol of the people of Rangpur. No one would be able to snatch the victory from the JP,” he added.

Joining an election campaign at the CO Bazar, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said no election was free and fair during the tenure of the AL-led government.

He alleged that the Sheikh Hasina-led government has killed thousands of innocent people in the name of encounter or abduction. “Vote rigging is in the nature of the AL. We’ll have to remain vigilant on the voting day to prevent AL activists from vote rigging,” he said.

The BNP secretary general said the government has failed to curb the rising prices of essential commodities. “If anybody protests against the activities of the present government, he/she is either being abducted or killed in crossfire,” he added.

He also appealed to the voters to cast their votes in favour of his party candidate, Kawsar Zaman Babla.

“If the polls are held in a free, fair and credible manner, the paddy sheaf, the election symbol of the BNP, will be victorious,” he said.

According to the Election Commission, 393,994 voters, including 196,356 men and 197,638 women, will apply their voting rights at 1,122 polling booths of 193 polling centres here to elect 45 public representatives.

 

 

Baskets of pledges from candidates

With only three days left for balloting, Rangpur civic polls have taken the centre stage in national politics, with political forces exerting themselves in the closing hours of electioneering to ensure victory for their candidates. The mayoral candidates in the ensuing Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) elections have been spending a hectic time in carrying on election campaigns. As the campaign time draws near, they are going from door to door to drum up support. The election campaign for the local government election has acquired a different dimension with the participation of stalwarts of the three major political partiesthe Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jaitya Party (JP-Ershad). Nearly four lakh voters are expected to witness a three-cornered vote battle in the mayoral race among the candidates of the three major political parties. But the main contest is likely to be between Nouka (boat) and Langal (plough), the election symbols of the AL and JP, respectively, feel Rangpur city residents. There are four independent mayoral contestants this time. The election campaigns will end on Wednesday midnight as the voting will be held on Thursday. The maiden election to the city corporation was held on December 20, 2012, under the party banner. AL-backed candidate Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu became the first mayor of Rangpur by bagging 106,255 votes and defeating his nearest rival, Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, by 28,450 votes. Central leaders of the AL, BNP and JP have been campaigning with their respective candidates by holding discussions, street meetings and mass-contact programmes to woo voters by making several promises, including that of making Rangpur a modern city. National political figures, including JP chairman HM Ershad and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are currently camping in Rangpur city to ensure the victory of the party-nominated candidates. During their election campaigns, AL leaders are trying to attract voters by highlighting the present governments development activities, while BNP leaders are trying to woo the voters by projecting the Sheikh Hasina-led governments alleged misdeeds. Besides, JP leaders, the main opposition in Parliament, are campaigning for their party-nominated candidates by asking Rangpur city residents to vote for the plough symbol, as Rangpur is the constituency of JP chairman HM Ershad. At a press conference yesterday in Rangpur, Ershad said that the city residents would vote for the plough on Thursday as they wanted a new city mayor. JP leaders and workers have already carried out a massive campaign across the city. Voters of the city corporation want a new face and that face is Mostafizar Rahaman, he added. The JP chief also said the election would be held peacefully and people would teach a good lesson to anyone trying to rig votes. The plough is the symbol of the people of Rangpur. No one would be able to snatch the victory from the JP, he added. Joining an election campaign at the CO Bazar, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said no election was free and fair during the tenure of the AL-led government. He alleged that the Sheikh Hasina-led government has killed thousands of innocent people in the name of encounter or abduction. Vote rigging is in the nature of the AL. Well have to remain vigilant on the voting day to prevent AL activists from vote rigging, he said. The BNP secretary general said the government has failed to curb the rising prices of essential commodities. If anybody protests against the activities of the present government, he/she is either being abducted or killed in crossfire, he added. He also appealed to the voters to cast their votes in favour of his party candidate, Kawsar Zaman Babla. If the polls are held in a free, fair and credible manner, the paddy sheaf, the election symbol of the BNP, will be victorious, he said. According to the Election Commission, 393,994 voters, including 196,356 men and 197,638 women, will apply their voting rights at 1,122 polling booths of 193 polling centres here to elect 45 public representatives.