City polls campaignings gain momentum

Campaigning for Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections is gaining momentum, as all candidates, including mayoral hopefuls, councillors for general and women reserved seats have started hectic canvassing for votes from early morning to midnight.

The elections are going to be held on January 30, under the party banner for the first time, with seven registered political parties in the fray. After the general election on December 30, 2018, city dwellers are again going to witness an electoral battle, mainly between ‘Nouka’ (Boat) and ‘Sheaf of Paddy’, poll symbols of the AL and BNP, respectively.

Both AL and BNP mayoral candidates, along with their supporters, have started door-to-door visits to woo voters with the promise of building a modern city, if elected.

The mayoral hopefuls are campaigning at different places, roads, offices and attending electoral meetings of professional bodies, gatherings and view-exchange meetings.

The city wore a festive look, with supporters of mayoral and councillor candidates bringing out processions and chanting slogans in favour of their respective aspirants all day long.

Both the AL and BNP mayoral candidates have opened election offices at important points and intersections in the capital as per election rules.

Both parties have formed election steering committees with their central leaders to campaign for their respective candidates and to oversee party activities in connection with the January 30 elections. A total of 13 candidates are vying for mayoral posts in the two city corporations. They are: AL nominated candidates, Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, BNP nominated candidates, Tabith Awal and Ishraque Hossain, Jatiya Party backed candidate, Haji Saifuddin Ahmed Milon, Maulana Abdur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bahrane Sultan Bahar of the National People’s Party, Md Aktaruzzaman, alias Ayatullah of the Bangladesh Congress, and Abdus Samad Sujan of Ganafront, Ahammad Sazedul Haque of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Shahin Khan of the Progressive Democratic Party, Fazle Bari Masud of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Anisur Rahman Dewan of the National People's Party.

Also, over 1,000 aspirants have filed nomination to contest the polls for general councillor and reserved seat councillor posts.

Along with hundreds of leaders and workers, AL nominated mayoral candidate for the DNCC, Atiqul Islam conducted his campaign for the second day.

After placing a wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, yesterday morning, Atiqul Islam started campaigning from Dhanmondi-32 and then visited different places in the capital.

He also conducted mass contact at different places of Mirpur, while he sought votes from city dwellers and made electoral promises to residents.

On his rival, BNP nominated candidate, Tabith Awal, formally launched his campaign from the party’s election office at Uttar Khan.

“People are eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights. And I hope those who couldn’t vote in the December 30 general election, will cast their votes against the ruling party nominated candidates in the January 30 civic polls,” he said.

He promised to carry out massive development work at Uttar Khan, if elected mayor of the DNCC.

Besides, AL nominated candidate for the DSCC, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, yesterday started his campaign from the historic Rose Garden area in Old Dhaka.

Taposh promised to make the historic Old Dhaka as the capital of a developed country.

“If elected in the upcoming polls, the DSCC will be rebuilt in accordance with my 30-year mega plan for the city, in a bid to make Dhaka active and healthy and modern,” he said.

He called upon his supporters to make door-to-door visits and seek votes in favour of ‘Nouka.’

His rival, BNP nominated candidate, Ishraque Hossain, also conducted his campaign for the second day. He started his campaign from Kamlapur railway station and its adjacent areas.

He called upon city residents to protest against the Awami League’s ‘misrule’ by casting votes in favour of the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’.

“If you (voters) want to get back your voting rights, if you want to stop government sponsored corruption, if you want peace in the city, you will have to stay beside us and vote for the BNP. Don’t be afraid of the police and AL goons,” he said.

He warned that a befitting reply will be given, if the ruling party wants to manipulate the election results in its favour by using the administration in the January 30 civic elections.

The DNCC and DSCC elections will be held using electronic voting machines (EVMs), instead of traditional ballot papers, and two army personnel will be in every polling station to guard the machines.

Some 5.8 million people — 3,035,621 in the DNCC and 2,767,488 in the DSCC — will have the opportunity to exercise their franchise.

The number of possible polling stations is 1,349 under 54 wards of the DNCC, and 1,124 under 75 wards of the DSCC.

On February 28, 2018, the AL-backed Atiqul was elected DNCC mayor in a by-election, after the post fell vacant following the death of mayor Annisul Huq on November 30, 2017.

The last two city corporation elections were held on April 28, 2015, in which AL-backed candidates Sayeed Khokon and Annisul Huq were elected mayors of the DSCC and DNCC, respectively. BNP backed candidates had boycotted the previous polls halfway through polling, alleging widespread rigging.

 

City polls campaignings gain momentum

Campaigning for Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections is gaining momentum, as all candidates, including mayoral hopefuls, councillors for general and women reserved seats have started hectic canvassing for votes from early morning to midnight. The elections are going to be held on January 30, under the party banner for the first time, with seven registered political parties in the fray. After the general election on December 30, 2018, city dwellers are again going to witness an electoral battle, mainly between Nouka (Boat) and Sheaf of Paddy, poll symbols of the AL and BNP, respectively. Both AL and BNP mayoral candidates, along with their supporters, have started door-to-door visits to woo voters with the promise of building a modern city, if elected. The mayoral hopefuls are campaigning at different places, roads, offices and attending electoral meetings of professional bodies, gatherings and view-exchange meetings. The city wore a festive look, with supporters of mayoral and councillor candidates bringing out processions and chanting slogans in favour of their respective aspirants all day long. Both the AL and BNP mayoral candidates have opened election offices at important points and intersections in the capital as per election rules. Both parties have formed election steering committees with their central leaders to campaign for their respective candidates and to oversee party activities in connection with the January 30 elections. A total of 13 candidates are vying for mayoral posts in the two city corporations. They are: AL nominated candidates, Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, BNP nominated candidates, Tabith Awal and Ishraque Hossain, Jatiya Party backed candidate, Haji Saifuddin Ahmed Milon, Maulana Abdur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bahrane Sultan Bahar of the National Peoples Party, Md Aktaruzzaman, alias Ayatullah of the Bangladesh Congress, and Abdus Samad Sujan of Ganafront, Ahammad Sazedul Haque of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Shahin Khan of the Progressive Democratic Party, Fazle Bari Masud of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Anisur Rahman Dewan of the National Peoples Party. Also, over 1,000 aspirants have filed nomination to contest the polls for general councillor and reserved seat councillor posts. Along with hundreds of leaders and workers, AL nominated mayoral candidate for the DNCC, Atiqul Islam conducted his campaign for the second day. After placing a wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, yesterday morning, Atiqul Islam started campaigning from Dhanmondi-32 and then visited different places in the capital. He also conducted mass contact at different places of Mirpur, while he sought votes from city dwellers and made electoral promises to residents. On his rival, BNP nominated candidate, Tabith Awal, formally launched his campaign from the partys election office at Uttar Khan. People are eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights. And I hope those who couldnt vote in the December 30 general election, will cast their votes against the ruling party nominated candidates in the January 30 civic polls, he said. He promised to carry out massive development work at Uttar Khan, if elected mayor of the DNCC. Besides, AL nominated candidate for the DSCC, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, yesterday started his campaign from the historic Rose Garden area in Old Dhaka. Taposh promised to make the historic Old Dhaka as the capital of a developed country. If elected in the upcoming polls, the DSCC will be rebuilt in accordance with my 30-year mega plan for the city, in a bid to make Dhaka active and healthy and modern, he said. He called upon his supporters to make door-to-door visits and seek votes in favour of Nouka. His rival, BNP nominated candidate, Ishraque Hossain, also conducted his campaign for the second day. He started his campaign from Kamlapur railway station and its adjacent areas. He called upon city residents to protest against the Awami Leagues misrule by casting votes in favour of the Sheaf of Paddy. If you (voters) want to get back your voting rights, if you want to stop government sponsored corruption, if you want peace in the city, you will have to stay beside us and vote for the BNP. Dont be afraid of the police and AL goons, he said. He warned that a befitting reply will be given, if the ruling party wants to manipulate the election results in its favour by using the administration in the January 30 civic elections. The DNCC and DSCC elections will be held using electronic voting machines (EVMs), instead of traditional ballot papers, and two army personnel will be in every polling station to guard the machines. Some 5.8 million people 3,035,621 in the DNCC and 2,767,488 in the DSCC will have the opportunity to exercise their franchise. The number of possible polling stations is 1,349 under 54 wards of the DNCC, and 1,124 under 75 wards of the DSCC. On February 28, 2018, the AL-backed Atiqul was elected DNCC mayor in a by-election, after the post fell vacant following the death of mayor Annisul Huq on November 30, 2017. The last two city corporation elections were held on April 28, 2015, in which AL-backed candidates Sayeed Khokon and Annisul Huq were elected mayors of the DSCC and DNCC, respectively. BNP backed candidates had boycotted the previous polls halfway through polling, alleging widespread rigging.