After plastering the capital and other divisional cities with party advertisements, the promotional billboard spree of Awami League (AL) has now hit the streets of Barisal.
With only few months until the next parliamentary elections, a number of billboards and digital banners have sprung up at various locations across the city, lauding the achievements and success stories of the present government.
The billboards do not carry the name of any organisation but rather picture Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and call for the re-election of the AL.
With the tagline ‘‘Unnoyoner Angikar, Dharabahikata Darkar” (to fulfill the pledge of development, continuity is essential), these billboards draw comparisons between the performances of the ruling AL and the opposition BNP parties’ performances, including statistical data.
Nikhil Chandra Das, chief executive officer of Barisal City Corporation (BCC), said BCC leased the advertising spaces to people in return for taxes. BCC is not concerned whether someone else leases the space from the leaseholders afterwards, he said.
Advocate Afzal Hossain, Barisal city’s Awami League secretary, made no comment when asked about the erection of the eye-catching billboards and banners on spaces leased to others.
He said: “Every entity has the right to demonstrate its own accomplishments. You may contact the information department and concerned authorities if you have any queries regarding this.”
The district information office and concerned departments, as well as the leaseholders of the billboards, all refrained from making any comment.
Lawmaker Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, who is also the city BNP president and central organising secretary, strongly condemned the campaign.
He said: “Pulling off such a campaign by hijacking billboards strongly indicates that the AL government has failed and has become totally isolated from people. In BCC elections, it was proven that billboards may not change their fate or help win the hearts of people.”
He also questioned the funding sources behind the campaign and said the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) should look into the matter.
The billboards and banners are mostly placed near the entrance point of the city and along the city’s highways, including Bibir Pukur Par, C and B Road, Rupatali, Nathullabad, Dapdapia, Shikarpur and Doarika Barisal Airport.