Several mayoral candidates for the upcoming polls in Dhaka North and South City Corporations began official electioneering yesterday.
The candidates who did public relations at different parts of the city were mainly those affiliated with the politics of ruling Awami League and the left leaning parties.
In the port city, apart from main opposition in parliament and Awami League’s ally Jatiya Party-backed Solaiman Seth, no other leading players were seen in the streets.
However, BNP-backed candidates have not yet started campaigning in either of the cities.
Sayeed Khokon, ruling party’s choice for the mayor of Dhaka south, started his yesterday’s activities around 11am in Shanir Akhra, at the base of the flyover in Jatrabari named after his father.
Because of Khokon’s gathering, a long traffic tailback was formed on the roads leading down and up to the flyover.
Section 6(1)(b) of the electoral code of conduct prohibits candidates or their supporters from holding rallies on busy roads if such programmes obstructed vehicular movement.
“If I win the election, just as my father [Mohammad Hanif] did, I will also try to implement projects to give a planned and clean city,” Khokon said at the rally.
Business magnet Annisul Huq, ruling party’s choice for the north of Dhaka, began his public relations at Karwan Bazar in the morning.
He told journalists that he has a three-year master-plan for turning Dhaka into a “planned, green and safe city.”
Jatiya Party-backed mayoral candidates Haji Saifuddin Ahmed Milon, for south, and Bahauddin Ahmed Babul, for the north, also did publicity in favour of their candidature.
The start of leftist leader Zonayed Saki’s electioneering had two parts. The joint convener of Gonoshonghoti Andolan began his day by paying homage at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Memorial in Mirpur. He, along with several hundred people, stood silently before the monument for a minute after placing wreaths.
In the second part, he began formal electioneering at the Bhashantek slum, one of the biggest in the country.
“I am here to say that if the city dwellers can organise themselves for upholding the democratic rights of citizens, ensuring better law and order for standing up against harassment, and better accommodation for all, then building a livable and safe Dhaka is very much possible,” Saki said.
Another leftist leader Abdullah Al Kafee, bidding for the mayor of north with blessings from Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Basad), also paid tribute at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Memorial before beginning his campaign yesterday.
He started his activities for the day at Mohammadpur and held a short rally at a truck stand n the area .
Kafee pledged to build a livable Dhaka by establishing a corruption-free administration.
Mahi B Chowdhury, joint secretary general of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh who is bidding for the mayor in the north, is expected to launch his campaign today. Sources said they will organise a press conference at the National Press Club at 11am today to officially kick off their campaign.
In Chittagong, both BNP-backed M Manjur Alam and Awami League-backed AJM Nasiruddin said they would start outdoor campaigning today.