Major mayoral hopefuls have welcomed the Election Commission’s decision of army deployment in the city corporation polls scheduled for April 28.
Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral aspirant Annisul Huq believes that it will have a positive influence on his election result.
“Now many more people will feel encouraged to go to polling centres,” he told reporters at Mirpur’s Jhilpara Bholaiya slum yesterday during his election campaign.
In his trademark style, Annisul played cricket with children in Lalmath area during his electioneering.
He also decried the attack on BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s motorcade, saying the attackers wanted to foil the city corporation polls.
Annisul Huq also campaigned in Mollah slum, Muslim Bazar, Pallabi, Arambagh, Mirpur 1, and Bhasantek yesterday.
BNP-backed candidate Tabith Awal sought magistracy power for army personnel in the city corporation elections.
He made the demand while talking to the media yesterday morning in Mohammadpur’s Rayer Bazar area.
If the army is not given magistracy power, it will not be able to play any effective role during the election, he said.
He demanded the army deployment before April 26.
“There is no security for candidates. Every day our BNP leaders and supporters are being arrested, besides being threatened by the ruling party men.”
Despite intimidation, the BNP-led 20-party alliance is taking part in the election and the befitting reply will be given on the day of election, he said.
Tabith yesterday launched his campaign at 10:30am from Pulpar along with BNP’s Information and Research Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Habib, central leader Habibul Islam Habib, and Labour Party Chairman Mostafijur Rahman.
Later, he went to Mohammadour’s Rajmushuri, Uttar Sultangang, Tajmahal Road and Madrasa Road to seek votes.
Afroza Abbas, wife of BNP-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Mirza Abbas, yesterday said the decision of army deployment was just an eyewash.
“Army personnel were also deployed during the upazila election but that did not work. We demand army deployment at every polling centre with judicial power,” she said while electioneering in the capital’s Sutrapur area.
Afroza also demanded the installation of CCTV cameras at every polling centre.
She also condemned the attacks on BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia by ruling party men.
Sensing defeat in the coming city polls, supporters of the ruling party candidates are launching attacks on Khaleda Zia one after another.
"It is now clear that the government is scared of BNP’s participation in the polls.” Afroza said.
Meanwhile, in Chittagong, 14-party alliance-backed Nagorik Committee mayoral hopeful AJM Nasir, also the general secretary of Awami League Chittagong City Unit, announced his election manifesto yesterday.
On the other hand, BNP-led 20-party-backed Chattagram Unnayan Andolon mayoral candidate Manjur told his supporters to guard the polling centres and ballot papers.
Apart from the two, other mayoral and councillor candidates were found busy with their electioneering.