Amid apprehensions about the fairness of the upcoming polls, a close three-way contest for the mayoral post warms up in Jessore, the oldest municipalities in the country.
This year’s municipality polls will be the first partisan local government elections, meaning candidates will run with electoral symbols of the two major political parties – Awami League’s country boat and BNP’s sheaf of paddy.
Just like national elections, the emotional attachment of voters with the two electoral symbols will no doubt play a big role in these polls as well.
But Jessore, one of the few municipalities with a strong independent candidate, is likely to see a closely fought mayoral battle, although recent violences have somewhat marred the customary festive mood that precedes any elections in Bangladesh.
Allegations have been raised that the ruling party candidate – Jahirul Islam Chaklader Rentu – have been using his men to attack the supporters and impede the campaign of his rivals.
Kamruzzaman Chunnu, a “rebel” Awami League candidate running with the “jug” symbol, has alleged that his supporters came under attack on December 14 when they were trying to stick publicity posters. Kamruzzaman said his son Ahsanuzzaman Sumon was injured in that attack.
On December 24 and 26, two other attacks were lodged on his supporters by members of the local chapter of ruling party’s student body Chhatra League and this time his wife got injured.
Police filed a case with the Kotowali police station in connection with the second attack. But that was pretty much all the law enforcers did in connection with that incident.
Kamruzzaman said yesterday: “The lives of the mayoral candidates are under threat. If this goes on, it will be difficult for the local people to come out and cast votes.”
He also said that things will be particularly difficult in wards four and five, which Kamruzzaman thinks are his strongholds.
BNP nominated candidate Maruful Islam has also claimed that his supporters were harassed several times by the ruling party candidate’s men.
He also said that he had lodged complaints with the Election Commission a number of times but no actions have yet been taken.
“I have not been allowed to campaign in ward number four and five even once. These two areas are dominated by the ruling party. We are also not sure whether we would be able to have our agents in the polling centres in these two wards because the ruling party men will use their muscles to remove them,” Maruful said.
When contacted, Sikder Akkas Ali, OC of the Kotowali police station, said that they had found none of these allegations valid.
“The situation in the municipality area is in our control and things are moving forward peacefully,” he said.
Awami League candidate Jahirul Islam Chaklader Rentu said his contenders are raising these allegations against him to mislead the voters. “They are doing this because they have realised that they cannot win in the polls.”
Sabina Yeasmin, returning officer of the Jessore municipality, also said that they have not yet got any valid claims of violence.
However, the Dhaka Tribune has talked to a number of voters from the municipality and many of them are apprehending that the polls day might not end peacefully.
Yeasin, an autorickshaw driver, said: “A tension is prevailing among the supporters of the candidates. Besides, there have also been some violence. So, I do not think people will be able to go out and cast their votes peacefully.”
The 14.72 sq-km Jessore municipality was formed on July 13, 1864. There are a total of 131,565 voters in this area.
