While many municipalities are experiencing tensions among rival mayoral candidates, the municipality of Bandarban is setting a unique example of mutual respect between the families and supporters of the two leading contenders.
As a result, there has been no incident of violence so far. The candidates have also not raised any allegations or played the blame game against each other.
Bandarban, a municipality of over 26,000 voters, will have to elect their next mayor from three candidates including frontrunners Islam Baby from the Awami League and Md Zabed Reza from the BNP. Jatiya Party’s Mizanur Rahman Biplab is the other aspirant who will run for mayor’s office in the December 30 election.
Sources said the AL candidate’s wife, Kamrun Khanam Baby, visited the house of Zabed’s father to seek vote on December 24. Upholding the genial spirit of Bandarban’s local politics, the BNP leader’s father Nurul Haq also wished his best to AL candidate Islam Baby.
On the same day, Zabed’s wife Happy visited the residence of Islam Baby, but was unable to meet anyone as everyone was out for election campaigning.
Later both the candidates’ wives ran into each other while they were visiting the house of Sadar upazila Chairman Abdul Quddus. The wives exchanged greetings and sought votes for their respective camps; they also took photos together with each other’s entourage.
Happy, the BNP candidate’s wife, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are lucky because the politics of Bandarban is different. When we [political rivals] meet each other, it does not feel like we are opponents.”
The friendly attitude was also maintained on December 25, when Gita Rani Das – BNP’s candidate for the women’s reserved councillor seat – arrived at a house meeting of AL leaders in Memberpara area.
Gita was offered a seat beside Awami League candidate Baby, while she greeted those present and asked Awami League supporters to vote for her.
Abdur Rahim, a local voter who was present there, told the Dhaka Tribune such a political gesture is only possible in Bandarban.
A total 29 candidates are also running for councillor and eight women are contesting for reserved councillor seats in Bandarban, a municipality that was founded in 1984.