Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet city polls

Flurry of promises as candidates busy wooing voters

Candidates contesting the civic polls in Rajshahi, Barishal and Sylhet are carrying out hectic campaigns to woo voters even amid the inclement weather.

The city corporation elections are slated for July 30.

The BNP mayoral candidates in Rajshahi, Barishal and Sylhet continue to accuse the police administration of harassing their supporters.

However, the ruling party candidates have dismissed such allegations.

A number of central leaders of both the Awami League (AL) and the BNP are now taking part in the poll campaigns in favour of their party-backed mayoral candidates.  

Our Rajshahi correspondent reports: Rajshahi returning officer Syed Aminul Islam yesterday served notices to Khulna and Gazipur city corporation mayors to refrain from taking part in the poll campaigns. He was instructed in this regard by election commissioner Rafiqul Islam.

Khulna mayor Talukder Abdul Khalek and Gazipur mayor Jahangir Alam had been campaigning in favour of the AL-backed mayoral candidate in Rajshahi, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.

“We've also served a notice to AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in this respect,” said Rafiqul Islam.

Asked whether the two mayors are they still staying in Rajshahi, Rafiqul Islam said he did not know anything about it.

Liton told journalists that the mayors of Khulna and Gazipur city corporations were not in Rajshahi anymore.

The BNP-backed mayoral candidate, Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, alleged that his supporters were daily being harassed by the police, even though the EC had ordered to the law enforcement agencies not to arrest anyone without a proper warrant. “We'll file a complaint with the EC in this regard. If it chooses not to take any steps, we'd be forced to take action against the commission," he added.

Our Barishal correspondent reports: Heavy showers and a stormy weather are hampering poll campaigns in Barishal.

Many candidates have complained about the poll being held in the middle of monsoon.

Mayoral and reserved female councillor candidates say that though general councillor candidates have to cover only limited areas within their respective wards, they have to cover vast areas amid the inclement weather.

Ignoring continuous rain elsewhere, BNP mayoral candidate Mujibor Rahman Sarwar started his campaigning from the BCC office area and met with the city corporation officials.  He alleged that government was doing everything in favor of the AL-backed candidate.

Sarwar said his workers and supporters were being harassed by the police. Already two BNP activists had been arrested for no reason at all, he added.

JP candidate Iqbal Hosen Tapos, BSD candidate Monisha Chakrabarti, CPB candidate AK Azad and IAB candidate Maolana Obaydul Rahman campaigned in different parts of the city.

The AL candidate, Serniabat Sadik Abdullah, carried out campaigns at Refugee Colony area and Kheaghat area of the city in the afternoon.

A rumour doing rounds that the JP candidate has been asked to withdraw his candidacy and support the AL candidate.

But the JP mayoral candidate refused to his withdraw his candidacy. " I'll fight till to end," said Tapos.

Our Sylhet correspondent reports: The AL-backed mayoral candidate, Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran, yesterday announced his 33- point election manifesto for the upcoming Sylhet city corporation (SCC) election. He pledged to establish world standard schools, colleges and universities in the city.

Kamran, a two-time mayor, also said that he would set world-class clinics and hospitals and organise free medical camps in every ward of Sylhet Ccty.

He also promised uninterrupted power supply and smooth movement of vehicles.

He said he would make the city's pavements hawker-free and set up four new markets in order to rehabilitate hawkers. He also pledged to resolve the waterlogging problem by evicting encroachers from the canals girdling the city.

He also reiterated his pledge to dredge the Surma river, provide gas connections, ensure supply of drinking water, introduce a modern transport system, provide separate transport for women passengers, set up modern parks on both banks of the Surma river.

Advocate Misbauddin Siraj, Ahmed Hussain, and Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury were present at the function.     

The BNP mayoral candidate, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, called upon the EC to take a hardline stance to maintain a congenial atmosphere for the election.

Briefing reporters at his central poll campaign office at the Mitali Community Centre, Chowdhury alleged that their leaders and activists were being harassed and their homes are raided by the police to create panic among them. He took part in poll campaigns in wards no. 20 and 21.

Central leaders Mohammed Shajahan, Dr Jibon, and LDP president Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed took part in the election campaign in favour of Chowdhury.

 

 

Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet city polls

Flurry of promises as candidates busy wooing voters

Candidates contesting the civic polls in Rajshahi, Barishal and Sylhet are carrying out hectic campaigns to woo voters even amid the inclement weather. The city corporation elections are slated for July 30. The BNP mayoral candidates in Rajshahi, Barishal and Sylhet continue to accuse the police administration of harassing their supporters. However, the ruling party candidates have dismissed such allegations. A number of central leaders of both the Awami League (AL) and the BNP are now taking part in the poll campaigns in favour of their party-backed mayoral candidates. Our Rajshahi correspondent reports: Rajshahi returning officer Syed Aminul Islam yesterday served notices to Khulna and Gazipur city corporation mayors to refrain from taking part in the poll campaigns. He was instructed in this regard by election commissioner Rafiqul Islam. Khulna mayor Talukder Abdul Khalek and Gazipur mayor Jahangir Alam had been campaigning in favour of the AL-backed mayoral candidate in Rajshahi, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. Weve also served a notice to AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in this respect, said Rafiqul Islam. Asked whether the two mayors are they still staying in Rajshahi, Rafiqul Islam said he did not know anything about it. Liton told journalists that the mayors of Khulna and Gazipur city corporations were not in Rajshahi anymore. The BNP-backed mayoral candidate, Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, alleged that his supporters were daily being harassed by the police, even though the EC had ordered to the law enforcement agencies not to arrest anyone without a proper warrant. Well file a complaint with the EC in this regard. If it chooses not to take any steps, wed be forced to take action against the commission, he added. Our Barishal correspondent reports: Heavy showers and a stormy weather are hampering poll campaigns in Barishal. Many candidates have complained about the poll being held in the middle of monsoon. Mayoral and reserved female councillor candidates say that though general councillor candidates have to cover only limited areas within their respective wards, they have to cover vast areas amid the inclement weather. Ignoring continuous rain elsewhere, BNP mayoral candidate Mujibor Rahman Sarwar started his campaigning from the BCC office area and met with the city corporation officials. He alleged that government was doing everything in favor of the AL-backed candidate. Sarwar said his workers and supporters were being harassed by the police. Already two BNP activists had been arrested for no reason at all, he added. JP candidate Iqbal Hosen Tapos, BSD candidate Monisha Chakrabarti, CPB candidate AK Azad and IAB candidate Maolana Obaydul Rahman campaigned in different parts of the city. The AL candidate, Serniabat Sadik Abdullah, carried out campaigns at Refugee Colony area and Kheaghat area of the city in the afternoon. A rumour doing rounds that the JP candidate has been asked to withdraw his candidacy and support the AL candidate. But the JP mayoral candidate refused to his withdraw his candidacy. Ill fight till to end, said Tapos. Our Sylhet correspondent reports: The AL-backed mayoral candidate, Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran, yesterday announced his 33- point election manifesto for the upcoming Sylhet city corporation (SCC) election. He pledged to establish world standard schools, colleges and universities in the city. Kamran, a two-time mayor, also said that he would set world-class clinics and hospitals and organise free medical camps in every ward of Sylhet Ccty. He also promised uninterrupted power supply and smooth movement of vehicles. He said he would make the citys pavements hawker-free and set up four new markets in order to rehabilitate hawkers. He also pledged to resolve the waterlogging problem by evicting encroachers from the canals girdling the city. He also reiterated his pledge to dredge the Surma river, provide gas connections, ensure supply of drinking water, introduce a modern transport system, provide separate transport for women passengers, set up modern parks on both banks of the Surma river. Advocate Misbauddin Siraj, Ahmed Hussain, and Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury were present at the function. The BNP mayoral candidate, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, called upon the EC to take a hardline stance to maintain a congenial atmosphere for the election. Briefing reporters at his central poll campaign office at the Mitali Community Centre, Chowdhury alleged that their leaders and activists were being harassed and their homes are raided by the police to create panic among them. He took part in poll campaigns in wards no. 20 and 21. Central leaders Mohammed Shajahan, Dr Jibon, and LDP president Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed took part in the election campaign in favour of Chowdhury.