Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday campaigned for Dhaka north mayoral aspirant Tabith M Awal for the second consecutive day, but faced resistance by ruling party men at least three times.
Khaleda came out of her Gulshan residence around 4:30pm and when her motorcade reached near Uttara 1 of the capital, some 25-30 motorcycles joined in.
As they moved forward, Uttara unit Awami League president Tofazzal Hossain and General Secretary Habib Hasan along with several hundred leaders and activists staged a demonstration with black flags in their hands.
They also tried to cordon off Khaleda’s motorcade. The ruling party leaders chanted slogans accusing the 20-party alliance chief of instigating the killing of people in the name of a government-ouster movement since January 6.
Some of the slogans included “Killer Khaleda should reply why my brother was killed,” and “Ghost of Pakistan, go back to Pakistan.”
In such a situation, Khaleda’s personal security forces and police tried to bring the situation under control. But the demonstrators marched forward forcing Khaleda’s motorcade to leave the spot.
The BNP chairperson then went to Uttara 3 and sought votes for Tabith at shops and shopping centres. She distributed leaflets among them and urged to elect Tabith as a new generation candidate.
She again faced resistance near Amir Complex at Uttara 7. Around 100 ruling party leaders and activists staged a demonstration on the street. The BNP supporters retaliated with counter slogans at that time.
Then Khaleda went to North Tower area under Uttara 7. After campaigning there, she was obstructed again at Sonargaon Jonopoth intersection.
Leaders and activists of ruling party’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League staged agitations with black flags. They also engaged in a brawl with the BNP chairperson’s security personnel.
Khaleda with her supporters later went to Jamuna Future Park area for campaigning.
Regarding Khaleda’s campaign, Tabith said: “Madam Khaleda Zia’s popularity is huge. Her campaign has added a new dimension to the campaign. If the election is held in a fair manner, I will be the winner.”
The three-time former premier started campaigning for Tabith, son of her adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo, on Saturday. Tabith was endorsed by the BNP, as Mintoo’s application had been scrapped by the Election Commission.
There have been discussions on whether Khaleda’s campaigning for Tabith amounts to a violation of the electoral codes since all local government elections are supposed to be “non partisan” as per the law.
While she heads one of the largest political parties, Khaleda is not a member of the parliament since she boycotted the last elections. The BNP chief did not walk the streets seeking votes before any of the city elections in the recent past.