Despite just two days remaining before the by-election for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral post, the polls have failed to generate enthusiasm among voters due to a lack of strong opposition candidates and resulting lacklustre campaigns.
According to voters, the mayoral candidates have conducted almost no electioneering this year, unlike in 2015 when Awami League candidate Annisul Huq and BNP contestant Tabith Awal both carried out lively campaigns.
Several voters from the Mirpur area under DNCC said they were not even interested in casting their votes, and did not know when the by-polls were scheduled to be held.
One such voter, Fakhrul Islam, said: “I do not know the exact date of the by-polls, but I have heard that an election will be held. No candidate came to ask for my vote, and I didn’t see any rallies or campaigns in our area. Just some posters of the ruling party candidate have been hung haphazardly.”
He further said he was not interested in voting, as BNP’s lack of participation ensured that the election would be no contest. “With BNP not taking part, there is no strong opposition. As such, the candidates are not conducting serious campaigns and the voters have lost interest.”
Rezaul Karim Patwari, a resident of DNCC's Rayerbazar area, said: “I came to know about the election after receiving a notice that all educational institutions in the area will be closed on February 28 for the by-polls. Many people of the area found out about the polls through their children, after getting notices from their educational institutions.”
The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq on November 30, 2017. He was elected mayor on April 28, 2015.
On January 9 last year, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for the DNCC by-polls and elections in 36 new wards, setting February 26, 2018, as the voting day.
However, the elections were stayed by the High Court for six months, following the filing of three writ petitions challenging the legality of the schedule.
After the court cleared the way for the polls in January this year, February 28 was set as the new date for voting in the mayoral by-election.
Elections to councillor posts in the 36 new wards - 18 under DNCC and 18 under Dhaka South City Corporation - will also be held on February 28. Unlike the mayoral by-polls, vigorous campaigns were conducted by candidates for councillor posts, as the posts will be contested for the first time.
A total five candidates are contesting the mayoral by-polls. They are Atiqul Islam from Awami League, Shafin Ahmed from Jatiya Party, Anisur Rahman Dewan from National People's Party, Shahin Khan from Progressive Democratic Party, and independent candidate Abdur Rahim.
The total number of voters in DNCC is 2,345,374, including 1,224,701 males and 1,120,673 females.
