The wife of Mirza Abbas, the BNP’s mayoral favourite for Dhaka South City Corporation, yesterday claimed on the campaign trail that ruling party men were threatening and attacking her husband’s supporters.
But Sayeed Khokon, the Awami League-backed candidate, dismissed Afroza Abbas’ concerns as mere politicking.
The opposing camps campaigned yesterday in Dhaka South City Corporation’s Kamrangirchar and Jurain areas.
While distributing leaflets decorated with her husband’s symbol – the mug – and seeking votes on his behalf in Jhauchar, Kamrangirchar around 10am yesterday, Afroza demanded bail for her husband to allow him to campaign.
Criticising the killings, disappearances and terror acts that took place during the ruling party’s term in office, Afroza called on voters to use the ballot box to register their discontent.
She claimed false cases were filed against her husband to bar him from electioneering.
“I thought on Thursday Abbas might get bail from the court. But the government intentionally delayed the procedure to keep him from campaigning,” she said.
Khokon belittled his rival’s wife’s concerns, saying: “She needs to say something against somebody, so she does.”
The son of undivided Dhaka’s first elected mayor Mohammad Hanif, Khokon yesterday commenced his campaign by saying his prayers in Jurain with the residents of the area.
At a rally there, he said: “If I am elected, I will try my best to develop this city like my father who sacrificed his entire life for the people of this city.”
Across town, Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral hopeful Annisul Huq campaigned yesterday by cycling five miles from the capital’s Bosila area to Manik Mia Avenue.
He said: “This is not an election rally. I am cycling to popularise bicycle use.
“This ride is to raise awareness about the need to keep our city clean. We want a pollution-free Dhaka.”
As mayor he would dedicate separate cycle lanes on as many roads as possible, he said.
Annisul began his ride from Bosila to Manik Mia Avenue via Mohammadia Housing and Asad Gate at 9am.
Ruling party local lawmaker Jahangir Kabir Nanak joined Annisul and campaigned for him.
Zonayed Saki, another contender for the DNCC mayorship, campaigned in Uttara’s House Building Society, Azampur, Rajlakshmi and Jasimuddin areas yesterday afternoon.
