Local development and fighting corruption have become the main campaign focus of the upcoming Sylhet City Corporation elections. The two chief mayoral candidates are pledging to tackle these issues, although they were both detained on corruption charges during the last caretaker government.
After receiving their election symbols, both contenders, AL-backed Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran and BNP-supported Ariful Haque Chowdhury, ceremonially started campaigning from the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) in Sylhet. Kamran and Ariful are using a pineapple and a television as their symbols, respectively.
Addressing a street rally in the city’s Darga gate area yesterday, Ariful Haque Chowdhury said he would free the city corporation office from political influence, and root out corruption and criminal activities. Seeking people’s votes, he recalled his contributions to the city’s development during the BNP-led, 4-party alliance government of 2001-2005.
Pointing out that Kamran had made similar pledges during the last elections, Ariful claimed that the outgoing mayor did exactly the opposite of what he had promised by engaging in corruption.
“Kamran absolutely failed to meet the expectations of the city dwellers,” Ariful said.
Meanwhile, Kamran, who is running for the third time, vowed again to provide city dwellers with the best amenities, saying he tried his level best to minimise the tribulations of city life during his tenure.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday after a programme in the city, Kamran refuted the allegation about his failure in development work. He said major development works were now under implementation. And after completion of the projects, the city would have a new look.
But residents of Sylhet city remain doubtful about the pledges made by the candidates.
“Would these aspirant mayors stick to their pledges at all?” was a common question posed by Sylheti voters while talking to Dhaka Tribune.
Kamran’s plans for the overall development of the city, including turning it into a tourist attraction, have not materialised yet. On the other hand, Arif has to overcome his reputation for corruption.
“The Sylhet City Corporation office has turned into a hub of corruption, criminal and political activities under Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran,” said Farooque Mahmud Chowdhury, president of Shocheton Nagorik Committee of Sylhet.
Anhar Miah, a shopkeeper in the city’s Zindabazar said: “Kamran betrayed the city dwellers after getting votes repeatedly.”
Advocate Jesmeen Begum, a lawyer of the Sylhet judge court said Ariful, who is vowing to eliminate graft, is notorious for his corruption and misuse of power during the 4-party regime.
“Pledging to remove corruption sounds incredulous coming from his mouth,” she said.