The election campaigns turned into festive gala in most parts of the city as the candidates for mayor and councilor positions geared up their electioneering in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
As the elections to DSCC and DNCC are just a week away, the poll campaign has already started dominating since last weekend.
The city has worn a festive look on Friday following the hectic campaign by both ruling Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed mayor and councillor candidates of DSCC and DNCC.
Apart from mayor candidates, councilor candidates are also going from door to door in order to garner people’s support and mandate.
On the other hand, agents and supporters of mayor and councillor aspirants of DNCC and DSCC elections are also passing busy days in electioneering on Wednesday.
Besides, various social media are also being massively used to turn table in their favour in the elections.
As Friday was a weekly holiday, Awami League-backed mayor candidates of DSCC Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and DNCC Atiqul Islam along with central and local leaders and workers launched their respective electioneering seeking votes from common people.
Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposhon Friday said all canals would be recovered from the grabbers in order to free the city from severe waterlogging.
He made the pledges while addressing a campaign rally at Narinda under Gandaria Police Station in the city.
“If I’m elected mayor, all canals in DSCC area will be recovered. When the grabbed canals and other water bodies will be recovered and there will be no waterlogging during the monsoon,” he said.
He said there were many canals and ponds in old Dhaka which have been lost in time.
“But these canals have been grabbed in many ways over the last decades. The Water Development Board couldn’t rescue these canals yet. We will rescue all canals and build attractive entertainment spots there,” he said.
Fazle Noor Taposh said, “I will preserve all traditional, cultural, or historical structures of old Dhaka.”
“We have taken 30-year plan to develop the capital Dhaka. I hope that you (people) will cast vote in favour of boat in order to let us implement our plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Awami League backed DNCC mayoral candidate Atiqul Islam on Friday turned down BNP backed candidate Tabith Awal’s allegation over tearing posters, saying his (Tabith) posters covered the north city.
“And the Election Commission has created a level playing field,” he told journalist after taking part in a friendly match at Gulshan Youth Club in the city.
He said if he is elected mayor he would rescue the play grounds from the grabbers.
“There is no alternative but to rescue the playgrounds from the grabbers,” Atiqul said.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed DSCC mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain and DNCC mayoral aspirant Tabith Awal along with party’s leaders and workers on Friday began electioneering after offering prayers at Arafat Rahman Koko’s graveyard at Banani in the city.
Koko was the younger son of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia. He died on 24 January 2015 at Malaya University Hospital in Malaysia due to a heart attack.
After offering prayers, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Awami League has become bankrupt politically because of its dictatorship and negative politics.
“As the Awami League smells that country’s people are not with them, it is hatching plots in many ways to snatch our victory in the city corporation elections,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said a mass wave has been created in favour of ‘sheaf of paddy following the torture, harassment and humiliation indulged in by the ruling Awami League.
“Nobody will be able to obstruct our two mayoral candidates’ victory in the upcoming DSCC and DNCC polls,” BNP Secretary General said.
He said the Awami League leaders and workers continued to launch terror attack on BNP backed mayoral and councillor candidates in order to compel them to keep away from the election campaign.
“And even they (Awami League leaders and workers) also tortured our candidates physically when they launch campaign,” he said.
Later BNP backed DNCC mayoral candidate Tabith Awal launched election campaign from Lutfon Tower near Moddhaya Badda in the city.
“Various conspiracies are being hatched regarding city polls. But I will not quit,” he said.
He said that he along with party’s central leaders and workers are going from door to door to seek votes. “Many residents in the local areas have assured me of their support in the voting of me,” said Tabith Awal.
He said if people want a beautiful Dhaka they will have to cast vote in favour of ‘sheaf of paddy’.
“We will wage vigorous movement to free our leader Begum Khaleda Zia. And we will also win the city poll inshallah,” he said.
Besides, DSCC mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain on Friday said he will announce his electoral manifesto on January 27.
“I’m going to announce the election manifesto on January 27. I’m framing various plans for my capital Dhaka that how and in what the city can be made a livable one,” he told reporters after offering Juma prayers at Faridabad at Jatrabari in the city.
He said they believe that they would win the polls as people love the BNP.
