Election fever has gripped Chittagong on the eve of the city polls, with a festive mood lingering among most port city residents; however, some expressed concerns about the security situation on election day.
Besides being able to elect a new city mayor after a five year wait, Chittagong residents have an extra reason to be happy about – as many as 100,000 of their respective family members who live in other districts have returned to the city to cast their ballots tomorrow.
Abu Bakar Siddique, a bakery owner in the city’s Madarbari area, said he was excited about the election as it was being participated by all political parties, while it was also coming after a grim political situation in the country.
Garment worker AKM Saiful Islam of CEPZ urged the media to play a neutral and active role to ensure a fair election.
“We want to choose [representatives] on our own, not by the influence of others,” said Meshkater Nesa, a sexagenarian living in the city’s Bowbazar area.
A new voter, Chittagong University student Nurul Alam Jewel, said: “As the major mayoral candidates are raising allegations against each other, we become confused regarding who is correct.”
Sharmin Akhter, a housewife of Halishahar area, said she would observe the security situation of her polling centre until noon before deciding whether it was peaceful enough to go there.
CCC Election Returning Officer Md Abdul Baten, however, assured the voters saying enough security measures will be in place for the security of voters. He also expressed hopes that voter turnout would be high for tomorrow’s elections in the port city.