With polling in a number of municipalities just three days away, election campaign in the municipalities has reached crescendo with passing of busy hours by candidates of mayoral and councilor posts to woo voters.
The third phase of municipal elections to 64 municipalities of different districts will be held on January 30. Posters, festoons and banners have already occupied the roads and the streets in the municipal areas.
Our two correspondents from Narail and Chuadanga covered news on electioneering of two municipalities-- Narail municipality and Darshana municipality.
In Narail, a total of four candidates are contesting for the mayoral post, while eleven female candidates are contesting for the councilor post of three reserved seats and thirty nine candidates are contesting for nine general councilor posts in the upcoming Narail municipality polls.
The mayor candidates are: Anjuman Ara (Awami League), Md Julfikar Ali Mondal (BNP) and Maulana Mohammad Khairuzzaman (Islami Andolon Bangladesh) while one independent candidate is Sarder Alomgir Hossain.
Besides, four female candidates are contesting for the post of councilor of ward no.1 reserved seat, three female candidates are contesting of ward no. 2 and four female candidates are contesting for the post of councilor of ward no. 3 reserved seat. A total of 5 candidates are contesting for the post of councilor in general ward no.1, 6 candidates are contesting for ward no.2, 3 candidates are contesting for ward no.3, 6 candidates are contesting for ward no.4. 3 candidates are contesting for ward no.5, 5 candidates are contesting for ward no.6, 6 candidates are contesting for ward no.7, 2 candidates are contesting for ward no.8 and 3 candidates are contesting for the post of councilor in general ward no.9.
Candidates along with their supporters and workers riding every mode of transport and using loud speakers are trying to draw the attention of voters.
Syed Samiul Alom Zihad, a voter of Kurigram area, said they would like to see an honest, efficient, affectionate to the poor, development worker and dedicated person as the mayor of Narail municipality this term.
The district town has got a new look de to posters on the roads and crowded places handed by respective candidates.
District election office sources said, A total of 34, 313 voters would cast their votes to elect mayor and councillors.Of them 16 thousand 704 voters are male and 17 thousand 609 voter are female.
Returning Officer of Narail Municipality polls and District Election Officer Md. Waliullah said that the total number of polling centres in the municipality are 14 while the number of polling booths are 99. The total of 15 Presiding Officers, 104 assistant Presiding Officers and 208 Polling Officers will be on duty in the polls. The election office has started massive preparation for holding a free and fair municipal election.The district election office conducted the orientation courses regarding election rules and procedures for the selected officials, he said.
In Chuadanga, electioneering of Darshana municipality has become festive mood recently with participation of voters, supporters, candidates of mayors and councilors.
According to Damurhuda Election Office, 3 mayoral candidates are contesting in the election. They are Motiar Rahaman of Awami League, Habibur Rahman Bullet of BNP and Mohammad Ashraf Ali, Independent. On the other hand 39 councilors and 8 women reserved seat councilors have been contesting in the election.
Motiar Rahman is the president of Darshana Poura Awami League. He was elected as poura mayor three terms in the pourasabha. Habibur Rahman Bullet is senior vice president of Darshana Poura BNP of Chhatradal. Mohammad Ashraf Ali was a leader of Jamaat Islami Bangladesh in Darshana.
Activists, supporters, leaders of awamileague and its wing organisations are going to door to door of voters for casting their votes in favor of Awami League symbol boat. Posters and banners are seen at different points of the areas for attacking the eyes of voters.
Motiar Rahman, mayor candidate of Awami League said voters of the areas will not make wrong in the election, they know him, give votes him in the election.
He also said that he was with common people before and will stay in future. He will turn into a model pourasabha under the banner of Awami League.
Habibur Rahman, mayor candidate of BNP said if he would be elected in the election, he would try to fulfill the demand of people.
Mohammad Ashraf Ali, mayor candidate added, he is going to voters for getting vote in the election. He thinks voters will give him votes.
It may be mentioned here that candidates of the election have been urging to cast vote in favor of them through miking. On the other hand posters and banners are displayed at different points of the areas. Habibur Rahman’s symbol is sheep of paddy and Ashraf Ali’s symbol is mobile.
Upazila Election Officer Mohammad Ishaque, said 39 candidates of general councilors and 8 women reserved seats councilors are contesting in the election in 3 wards of the pourasabha.
There are 27,517 voters in the areas. Of the total 13,571 and 13,946 are male and female voters. They would exercise their franchise in the election on January 30, it is learnt from Damurhuda Upazila Election Office.
