Both ruling Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed mayor candidates of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) demanded deferment of the polls. Considering Saraswati Puja is celebrated at all universities, colleges and other educational institutions across the country, the candidates on Thursday said Election Commission should announce a fresh schedule for holding the polls that coincide with Puja.
They came up with these statements while addressing poll campaign rally at different places of the city. The mayor and councilor candidates of both DNCC and DSCC were also found busy distributing leaflets and festoons with making their appeals as polls are scheduled to be held on January 30.
Ruling Awami League-backed mayor candidates of DSCC Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Atiqul Islam along with central and local leaders are virtually passing sleepless nights Besides, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed DSCC mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain and DNCC mayoral aspirant Tabith Awal also along with party’s central and local leaders and activists have put their frantic efforts to reach out to voters in different areas of city to woo them for ensuring their victory.
Atiqul Islam on Thursday urged the Election Commission to defer the city polls schedule. “Considering the Saraswati Puja, I’m calling upon the commission to announce a fresh schedule to hold elections to DSCC and DNCC,” Atiqul Islam, also the incumbent DNCC mayor said this while addressing a wayside rally at Mirpur 12 in the city.
He termed Bangladesh a non communal country, saying they do not want the city polls would take place on the same day. ‘We are demanding to consider the issue seriously. BNP mayoral candidate Tabitha Awal in Dhaka North said, "deferral of poll is demand of the people, election commission should address this."
Atiqul Islam has conducted mass campaign in Alipurdi Eidgah ground of ward 3,5 and 6 of North City Corporation, comprising Dhaka-16 seats, in Mirpur 12 Section 11, Palash Nagar, Section 10, Pallabi, Milk Vita, Rupnagar. BNP nominated Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain has said, “some media outlets have published misleading information about his case” We want fresh schedule for city poll, he added.
In the meantime, campaigning at Lalbagh area on Thursday Awami League nominee for mayoral poll on south Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh demanded same. He said, ‘We have urged, hopefully Election Commission will reconsider upon public request.’ After the commission announced on December 22 last year that polls to Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) would be held on January 30, the Hindu community voiced its opposition to the decision immediately as it was set to celebrate Saraswati Puja on January 29-30.
The issue became more complicated with the school holiday calendar sanctioned by the government marking January 29 for the Hindu religious festival. Many Hindu religious groups, including the Puja Udjapon Parishad and Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), had urged the Election Commission to move the election day to facilitate the community in celebrating the festival.
