Voters of Sreepur municipality in Gazipur district have demanded election manifesto from the candidates, a written statement by them, saying what they believe in and what they intend to do, in upcoming election.
According to local sources, discussions among the residents of the municipality in the run-up to the municipal polls are dominated by frustration over the lack of a number of facilities.
The area has not seen significant development and is riddled with problems such as lack of good educational institutions, playgrounds and amusement parks, unplanned housing and industrialisation and insufficient supply of gas and water.
Meanwhile, both mayoral and councillor candidates started to campaign after allotting symbols among them.
Sramik League leader Anisur Rahman was nominated as mayoral candidate by Awami League.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party nominated the district unit BNP secretary Md Shahidulla Shahid as their mayoral candidate in the election.
Abul Kashem, general secretary of the municipality unit Satio Samajtantrik Dal, got nomination as independent candidate.
Ahshanullah, former vice president of Sereepur University College,, also got nomination as independent candidate.
According to locals, the mayoral and councillor candidates started campaign in full swing and they go to door to door and talk to the voters till late night.
But they alleged that they were unaware about them as they have no any written statement from the candidates.
Akter Hossain, a voter of Ward No-1, said the candidates talked a lot before the election, but they did nothing after winning the poll.
“We want to know clearly from election manifesto where everything will be described what they intend to do,” he said.
“Without manifest, we do not believe them,” he added.
Trader Suman Bepari said the candidates should disclose everything what they would do in next five years.
College student Sarwar said: “We want the manifesto urgently.”
He said without a manifesto an election could not be fruitful.
Mansur Ali, a CNG-run autorickshaw driver, said the condition of roads in the municipality area was very poor and drivers had to face difficulties while driving.
“Candidates come to us during campaigns and seek votes but low-income people like us are not making progress. This time, I will choose a candidate who will think about our miseries and help us,” he also said.
“I do not believe what they speak. I want written statement,” he added.
Advocate Emdadul Haque Masum, who lives in Ward 1, said: “The annual budget of the municipality is not implemented properly. If that was the case, we would have seen at least some development projects being implemented every year.”
Mayoral candidate Anisur said everything was described in the order of election resolution.
“If there is order of providing manifesto, I will do it,” he also said.
Shahidulla Shahid said: “If there is order of publishing manifesto in election resolution, of course I will do it.”
When contacted, Md Hasanuzzaman, returning officer in the district, said: “There is no order in the regulation about providing manifesto among the voters by the candidates.”
The municipality, which was founded in November 2000 and has an area of 46.97 square kilometres, was given second-class status in March 2007.
The municipality area has a population of more than 150,000 while the number of voters is 57,961 – 29,226 males and 28,735 females.