Parties in last-ditch campaign for votes
STAFF REPORTER, Dhaka
With only three days left for the 11th parliamentary election, candidates of both the Awami League (AL) and BNP, along with their respective allies, are making last-ditch efforts to garner votes. The national polls will be held on December 30. The voting will start at 8am and continue till 4pm without a break.
Since the beginning of campaigning on December 10, candidates of both the AL and BNP have gone all-out to get peoples support. Ruling party candidates are dominating the campaign scenario, while BNP nominees are facing difficulties in their respective areas. AL candidates and their supporters have been carrying out hectic canvassing for votes from early morning to midnight across the country. Since the beginning of the campaigning, they have been making door-to-door visits to woo voters.
All divisional cities are wearing a festive look with banners
and posters of the AL, BNP and other political parties. Leaders and activists of respective candidates are keeping the cities abuzz with slogans. The AL-led Grand Alliance has set up election offices and gates, and songs referring to the names of candidates are being played on loudspeakers from dawn to midnight. AL president Sheikh Hasina has already carried out her party campaign across the country and sought votes for her party candidates. During their campaign, AL candidates called upon the people to cast their votes in favour of Nouka in the December 30 polls, for the sake of continuation of the development process. Besides, ruling party candidates have also started digital campaigning to reach each and every voter in the country.
As part of the new strategy, AL candidates are sending SMS and urging people to cast their votes in favour of Nouka.
AL candidates have also started campaigning on social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter. Some others have made documentaries on the governments development projects and are posting them on their own social media pages.
On the other hand, candidates of the BNP, its allies as well as the Jatiya Oikyafront have alleged that the police have been arresting their workers from the very beginning of electioneering, thereby queering the pitch for a level playing field for the December 30 polls. BNP leaders said they are upset over growing incidents of violence across the country, even after deployment of the army. The leaders alleged that many of their candidates contesting on the sheaf of paddy symbol of the BNP have come under attack by ruling party activists. Party activists are being arrested, thereby disrupting their campaigning. BNP standing committee member, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, said ruling party activists have become desperate and are carrying out attacks on opposition activists even after deployment of the army. We expected that the situation would be normal and a congenial atmosphere would be created after deployment of the army, but the AL people have become more desperate. They are carrying hockey sticks and lethal arms to carry out attacks on the opposition, as if the army will support them, he said.
The BNP leader said they are still in the field and expect the election to be held in a free and fair manner.
He further said the if the people get a chance to cast their ballots, they would vote for the sheaf of paddy.
Speaking at a press conference at the partys central office, BNP senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, also said their party leaders and activists were attacked by ruling party men and the police in 28 constituencies, injuring over a hundred people, including 19 candidates, during the last 24 hours.
He termed Monday as the most violent day, as the police and ruling party cadre attacked rallies and campaigns in different parts of the country.
The situation didnt improve even after deployment of the army. We had expected that there would be a substantial improvement after its deployment, he said.
The BNP leader called upon the army to take steps for ensuring a peaceful election atmosphere. He claimed that the situation has turned so bad that the police have started spraying bullets on opposition leaders and activists.
The police used to charge batons in the past and hardly fired bullets, but now they are firing shots on leaders and activists of the sheaf of paddy, he added.
He said the BNP candidates who came under attack in the last 24 hours include Barrister Moudud Ahmed in Noakhali, Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie in Lakshmipur, Abdul Moyeen Khan in Narsingdi, Hafizuddin Ahmed in Bhola, Miah Nuruddin Apu in Shariatpur, Sunsila Jabrin Priyanka in Sherpur and Akhtaruzzaman and Shariful Alam in Kishoreganj.
Rizvi said ruling party men are gradually becoming desperate, and making preparations for capturing polling stations to rig the elections on December 30.
On the other hand, AL leaders claimed BNP candidates were spreading falsehood to mislead the nation ahead of the polls.
In the Dhaka-4 constituency, BNP candidate Salahuddin Ahmed alleged that the police did not allow him to bring out a procession from his Syampur residence.
He claimed that he has been confined to his residence and raised questions as to why he is not being allowed to campaign when his opponent can do it.
The BNP candidate also alleged that at least 15 party activists have been arrested and accused the police of showing partiality.
