Putting an end to speculation, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia began formal campaigns for the mayoral election of Dhaka yesterday, stirring up her party’s rank and file.
She started with Dhaka north, where she lives, and campaigned for Tabith Awal who is her adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo’s son. With Mintoo being disqualified, Tabith was endorsed by the BNP, the main political opposition at the moment.
There have also been discussions on whether Khaleda’s campaigning for Tabith would amount to a violation of electoral code, since all local government elections are supposed to be “non-partisan” affairs.
While she heads one of the largest political parties, Khaleda is not a member of the parliament since she boycotted the last elections. In fact the BNP found itself thrown out of parliament because of that boycott and has been waging a violent campaign to topple the government leading to new elections.
While ministers and MPs are barred from campaigning for Awami League-backed candidates, the Election Commission is yet to react on Khaleda’s decision to campaign.
The three-time former premier has not walked the streets seeking votes before any of the city elections in the recent past but her joining the polls campaign is likely to encourage BNP leaders and activists to work harder for their candidates in the Dhaka and Chittagong city polls.
Without informing the media, Khaleda all of a sudden came out of her Gulshan residence around 4:30pm and began campaigning for Tabith in Gulshan and Badda.
Flanked by hundreds of activists, the BNP chief first went to Pink City in Gulshan 1 and then to Dhaka City Corporation market in the same area in the afternoon. She also visited Navana Tower and handed out Tabith’s leaflets to the store owners in the markets.
She later distributed leaflets among people on the streets as her motorcade headed for Badda.
During Pohela Boishakh celebrations at the party’s Nayapaltan office on Tuesday, Khaleda introduced the mayoral candidates and sought votes for them as she urged the voters to bring a silent revolution through ballots in the upcoming city corporation polls.
Witnesses said Khaleda sought votes for Tabith, asking voters to cast their votes for a change in the city.
“Pray for Tabith. We want votes for the bus symbol, for a change,” an aide of Khaleda told the Dhaka Tribune.
Shamsul Huda, a ward councillor candidate, told the Dhaka Tribune that Khaleda’s campaign would charge up party leaders and activists, and would bring a new wave in the campaign.
“Certainly, it will give party leaders and activists a big moral boost, and inactive leaders will also engage in the campaign,” he said.
A party insider said Khaleda’s campaign news was not disclosed earlier over apprehension that the government might create obstruction.
On the other hand, Khaleda’s sudden campaign brought enthusiasm for the candidates.
“To date, I was fearful of conducting campaigns as many cases had been lodged against me. But my fear is now gone. Why should I fear when my leader [Khaleda] campaigned on the street?” said a ward councillor aspirant.
Tabith joined Khaleda in the campaign on Road 11 in Banani and then campaigned on some other roads there. He then left after taking permission from Khaleda to join a television discussion.
BNP leaders said Khaleda would continue her campaign for a few more days and would campaign in Dhaka South City Corporation as well.