With just 12-day ahead of holding the elections of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), poll's fervour has gripped the capital on Friday. Both the ruling Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed Mayoral and the councillor candidates of DSCC and the DNCC along with their respective party leaders and workers in the city have accelerated their election campaigns.
Besides, various social media are also being used massively in favour of their candidacies. At the holiday on Friday, Awami League backed Mayoral candidates of DSCC Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and of DNCC Atiqul Islam along with the central as well as local leaders and workers have launched the electioneering campaign.
Besides, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed DSCC Mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain and the DNCC Mayoral aspirant Tabith Awal along with party’s central, local leaders and activists have also started their frantic efforts to reach the voters of different areas of the city to realise their support for ensuring their respective victories.
However, following the university students’ 'fast unto death' programme, uncertainty looms large over holding of the polls in two Dhaka city corporations slated for January 30. The students are continuing demonstrations demanding deferment of or delay the polls as the Saraswati Puja for the Hindu community people will be observed in all educational institutions as well as elsewhere in the country on the same day of holding the polls.
Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh who launched his electioneering from in front of the Central Veterinary Hospital at Fulbaria in the city on Friday expressed his firm optimism, saying people will vote in favour of the 'Boat' for the continuation of the development works launched by the government. “We believe to win the January 30 city polls Inshallah,” he said.
He claimed to continue his mass contact in a very peaceful manner. There was no scope to violate the electoral code of conduct and a festive mood was prevailing in the city centring the election, he added. “I want to give a specific good shape to Dhaka. I love Dhaka and proud to be a resident of Dhaka,” he said.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed DSCC mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain on Friday said the capital Dhaka has turned into an uninhabitable city during the last 10-year due to corruption, irregularities and mismanagement of the concerned authorities. He was addressing a wayside rally in front of Shaympur Government Model College in old Dhaka. “Our capital Dhaka is ranked the worst city in the world. Besides, the city is also ranked the second-worst in Air Quality Index (AQI). It is very unfortunate to all of us,” he said.
Ishraque Hossain, also the son of former undivided Dhaka City Corporation Mayor late Sadeque Hossain Khoka, called upon the people to cast vote in favour of the 'Sheaf of Paddy' in order to make the capital a liveable city. “I’m urging all of you to go to the polling centres braving all odds. If we are elected, people will get back their fundamental rights, inshallah,” he said.
Awami League-backed mayoral candidate of DNCC Atiqul Islam on Friday promised that he will keep no stone unturned for the betterment of the city dwellers. “If I’m elected as the Mayor and our leaders are elected as councillors, we will ensure all civic services for the city people. It is our pledge to the city dwellers,” he said while speaking at a wayside election campaign at Baunia in Mirpur area of the city.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed mayoral candidate Tabith Awal said the Election Commission (EC) was deliberately creating controversy by fixing the election day on the date of celebration of the Sarwasati Puja’. “We are waiting for the Appellate Division’s decision,” he said while addressing a mass election campaign at Mohammadpur Razia Sultana Road on Friday.
Dhaka city has become unfit for living. The city people are constantly being deprived of civic amenities. If the city dwellers vote us to win, we promise to build a modern Dhaka by ensuring all civic amenities he mentioned.
