With exactly two weeks before the country goes to poll, the ruling Awami League appears to be way ahead of its arch-rival BNP in regard to campaigning to win the election.
Visiting some parts of quite a few constituencies on Dhaka-Natore-Dhaka route on Friday and Saturday, this correspondent found that in terms of presence and displaying of posters, and wall-writings, the Awami League simply outclassed the BNP.
A large number of huge billboards containing the portraits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina were also visible on the most of roundabouts on the way. There was, of course, no appeal for votes on those hoardings. Not a single such board on behalf of BNP was visible.
At the starting point of the journey, which was Uttara, the BNP campaign is yet to be visible while posters and wall-writings were found for the Awami League candidate. Awami League activists were quite active, but BNP activists are yet to show up here. However, some posters of other candidates were seen.
The scenario was the same in Tongi, Kaliakair, Mirzapur, Tangail, Kalihati and Elenga. Apart from displaying posters and hoardings, Awami League activists were found conducting campaign activities using loudspeakers and bringing out processions.
The scenario changed a little bit after crossing the Bangabandhu Bridge. From Sirajganj to Gopalpur of the Lalpur upazila in the Natore district, BNP presence started to be visible though not significant comparing to Awami League. A BNP procession was seen in Boraigram of Natore.
On the way back on Saturday through Savar, a major constituency for both the parties, it was all Awami League. Not a single poster of BNP candidate was visible. But, as the journey approaches to the city, though outnumbered, quite a good presence of BNP was felt in terms of posters.
Stopping at about dozen of places, this correspondent could not find any traditional election-time BNP office but one in Gopalpur.
About the reasons behind BNP’s lacklustre campaigning so far, activists belonging to both the parties and members of the public came up with different causes during the interaction with the Dhaka Tribune.
Awami League activists are of the opinion that they are organizationally strong and motivated by the party hierarchies to work hard to ensure victories for their candidates.
BNP workers, however, sounded not so “confident” and seemed short of guidance from the leadership.
They also fear “Awami League attack” if they set up offices or try to bring out any procession. Some of them said their campaign will go in full swing after the deployment of the army and that for now they are campaigning more freely in rural areas than cities.
Expressing optimism about having a peaceful poll, ordinary members of the public observed that the Awami League campaign is more visible because the party has been in power for 10 years, making them confident and it does not have to “worry about” anything but the election.
On the other hand, they said the BNP activists have to “think about so many things like cases against them, fear of arrest and fear of attack by their opponents”.
