Supporters of chairman candidates in 11 union councils under Sadar upazila are passing busy moments for free and fair elections held on March 22.
Local sources said campaign for the upcoming elections was at an eleventh hour yesterday and the supporters of the candidates remained alert so that the vote of any candidate could not be purchased.
When visited it was found the people of Mohinanda, Bolai, Korshakrial, Binnati and Maria union councils guard at several points in groups against any kind of anomalies.
Mahfuz Mian of area in Maria said: “We, seven friends along with many other villagers guard at night with torchlight and bamboo sticks so that nobody can purchase votes of general voters.”
Mahfuz alleged that in spite of heavy alertness, some candidates purchase the votes.
They also sent money to the voters through bKash account, said he.
A section of voters of Sadar upazila alleged that the current chairman and some rebel candidates were barrier for free-fair elections.
Independent candidates are campaigning in nine union councils out of 12. On the other hand, 12 rebel-candidates who are deprived of their party, campaign for elections. Of them, seven are from Awami League and 5 from Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The current chairmen Abdur Razzak in Latifabd, Shfiqul Islam in Binnati,Saluddin Ahmed in Maria, Tofzzal Hossain in Boulai, Mofizuddin in Maikhapon, Md Kamaluddin in Korshakorial, Shamsulhuda in Joshodal, Abdul Karim in Chowuddashato and Md Nurul Huda in Mohinanda union councils contest to win the elections from their party.
On the other hand, Mohammad Nurul Huda, a rebel candidate of Awami League and current chairman of Mohinanda union, Shafiqul Isalm from Binnati union and Abdul Karim, a BNP rebel candidate and current chairman of Chowuddashato union and Saluddin Ahmed in Maria union contest in the elections.
In Mohinanda union, a total of four candidates contest from Awami League including the current chairman. Five in Rashidabad, five in Danapatuli, six in Binnati, four in Maria, seven in Boulai, three in Maizkhapon, seven in Latifabad, four in Jashodal, seven in Korshakorial, five in Chowuddashato contest hard to win the elections.
A total of 58 got nominations contest for the post of chairman, 439 in members and 133 in woman reserved seat posts. Election Commissioner Md Ashraful said the preparation for free and fair elections had already been completed.