Chattogram is wearing a massive festive look as electioneering is getting momentum ahead of the city corporation (CCC) polls in the port city scheduled for 29 March. A total of 6 mayoral contestants, 161 councillor candidates and 56 aspirants for reserved women seats are participating in the polls. Awami League (AL)-backed mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and BNP’s Dr Shadat Hossain are the focus of the election.
In 41 wards of the city, both the leading political parties have already announced names of their respective candidates. The women councillors have also been nominated in the reserved wards by these two political parties. Beyond that, some local leaders of the two parties are competing in the elections in councillor posts as independent candidates.
Election campaign officially began on Monday. On this day, the two mayoral candidates of AL and BNP have exchanged greetings face to face twice, once in Shilpakala Academy where the election commission office distributed election symbol and second time in Shah Sufi Amanat Shah Shrine in Lal Digi playground of the city where the two candidates begun their formal election campaign at the same time after offering special prayers.
AL Mayor Candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury campaigned on Tuesday in the Patenga area of the city's southwest regions. Throughout the day, he sought votes in three wards areas. Local Awami League leaders and councillor candidates also accompanied him.
During the campaign, Rezaul Karim sought public vote showing Boat symbol promising to further work for the development of the port city. He said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina selected him as mayor candidate to implement her dream for Chattogram. By strengthening Sheikh Hasina's hand by voting in the Boat symbol, she (Prime Minister) will turn Chattogram into a dream city.”
“Several more mega projects, including elevated expressways up to the airport from Tigerpass area, are underway in Patenga area, Rezaul Karim said. “The Prime Minister herself is overseeing the implementation of these projects. More projects will be taken in these areas in the future.”
He urged the party leaders and activists to carry out campaigning peacefully from door to door. Despite the warnings of the coronavirus across the country, Rezaul Karim's campaign has been seen by many people. A similar situation has been witnessed in the campaign of BNP mayor candidate Dr Shadat Hossain. He has campaigned in the wards of Hathazari, the northeast area of the city. Senior BNP leaders and workers, ward councillor candidates were also with him.
During the campaign He asked the voters to go to vote centres on 29 March, without fear. “Terming the situation and the total election mechanism is under unethical control by Government, Shadat Hossain said, “People have the power to change, let’s show it through ballot.”
Demanding the release of Begum Khaleda Zia, Dr Shadat Hossain said that if the candidate of BNP wins, the government will be forced to release him. He offers to build a health and environment friendly city if people will elect him as Mayor of Chattogram city.
There are 19,51,052 voters in the CCC polls. Among them, 9,98,723 are male and 9,52,329 are female. In this election, the number of voters increased 1,37,603 than the election of 2015. Meanwhile, Returning Officer of the election, Mohammad Hasanuzzan, has said that the candidates are campaigning peacefully.
