Ruling Awami League factions are still is divided over nominating candidates for the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) polls scheduled for June 12.
Although a faction of local Awami League leaders and workers have given civic reception to central Awami League nominated mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) on April 20, the previous internal factional rift between current BCC Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah and Jahid Faruk Shahim, state minister for water resources, persists.
In the event of being elected as mayor, Khokon Serniabat stated his intention to transform the devastated Barisal into a new and peaceful city by collecting funds from the central government and ensuring equal justice for all.
Meanwhile, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Awami League presidium member said Khokon Serniabat is a pure and modest man.
If anyone wants to see Barisal as a beautiful city in the future, then they must vote for Khokon Serniabat, added Nanak.
Nanak also claimed all Awami League activists are united and there is no difference between them.
Abdur Rahman, another presidium member of Awami League, warned the leaders and activists to avoid doing things that might ruin the party's image.
Current BCC Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah called on party activists to work on behalf of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the party-nominated mayor candidate.
Sadiq also claimed that they are united to follow the direction of the party Chairman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said the party-nominated candidate is none other than his uncle, so he will do whatever it needs to make him win the polls.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh declared to contest, but Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal candidate Dr Manisha announced to boycott the BCC polls.
In this regard, Islami Andolan Bangladesh has announced the name of Senior Nayeb Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim as their mayoral candidate for the BCC polls.
Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim said the reason behind his participation in the polls is to send a message to the ruling government that if the Awami League attempts to seize power in the BCC election, it will mark the beginning of their downfall from power.
Karim further said no one would suffer if he gets elected as mayor.
Jatiya Party mayoral candidate Engineer Iqbal Hossain has urged the Election Commission not to conduct the election through EVMs to ensure free, fair, and impartial voting in the upcoming BCC polls.
He asserted that since he and his party have a good reputation, he is confident that he will be elected as mayor.
He also plans to develop Barisal as a production-oriented city.
On the other hand, Dr Manisha Chakraborty, the member secretary of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal and the only female mayoral candidate in the 2018 BCC polls, has announced that she and her party will not participate in the upcoming polls.
Manisha claimed that Election Commission has yet not succeeded to prove any example or ability for conducting free fair elections at any level.
The Election Commission also failed to take any measures against vote rigging, she noted.
