NCC candidates get electoral symbols

Returning Officer Nuruzzaman Talukder distributed the symbols among the candidates at Narayanganj Club on Monday morning. Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy was given “boat” while BNP-backed Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan got “sheaf of paddy”. Islami Oikya Jote-backed Ezharul Islam was given “minaret”, Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Ismail of Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party “spade” and, Islami Andolon-backed Masum Billah was given “hand fan”. Besides, LDP’s Kamal Pradhan got “umbrella”, Kalyan Party’s Rashed Ferdous got “wrist watch”. EC will distribute symbols among 156 councilor and 39 female councilor candidates till 5pm today. The NCC is set to hold its second mayoral election on December 22 since gaining the city corporation status, with both ruling Awami League (AL) and its archrival BNP throwing their hats in the ring for the race. Ivy to wipe out thugs from N’ganj if elected, Shakhawat hopes for a fair election. Selina Hayat Ivy said the Prime Minister sanctioned her (Ivy) the symbol ‘boat’ realizing the pulse of the entire Narayanganj dwellers. She hoped that people of the city would go for ‘boat’ in the upcoming NCC polls on December 22. She said this while talking to journalists after receiving the symbol from the returning officer’s office at Narayanganj Club Limited yesterday morning. Ivy said: “My slogan for this election is “No fear no worry, the city will be peaceful’. There will be no thugs in Narayanganj.” Shakhawat Hossain Khan, the BNP-backed mayoral candidate for NCC polls, alleged that his counterpart was frequently violating the electoral code of conduct. After receiving his electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ from the returning officer’s office he said existing city corporation officials were  campaigning for Ivy and which is a clear violation of electoral system. Nevertheless, he said he would rely on the election commission as well as on government to experience a fair election unlike the previous elections held under this commission. “If people can cast their vote fairly on December 22, they will lead ‘ Sheaf of Paddy’ to an overwhelming victory, he added.