A busy day for candidates

Mayoral and councillor candidates for the two Dhaka city corporations polls spent a busy day yesterday trying to woo prospective voters.

A 19-day campaign for elections to Dhaka north and south city corporations officially began on Friday with the ruling party candidates pledging to continue the ongoing development work in the capital.

Meanwhile, the BNP candidates said they would participate in the elections to DNCC and DSCC for “re-establishing democracy” in the country.

The campaign will continue until midnight of January 28. The voting will start at 8am on January 30.

Ishraque Hossain distributes leaflets in Shahjahanpur area. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Collected

DNCC

On the second day of the campaign, candidates and their supporters held street meetings, conducted door-to-door campaigns and distributed leaflets among passers-by.

While following the campaign trails in Uttarkhan, Chalaban and Azampur areas, this correspondent saw people were enthusiastic and hopeful that their problems will be addressed and given priority.

These areas became a part of DNCC last year.

“The roads in Chalaban area are very narrow for vehicles to ply. We hope the candidates will address the issue and keep their pledges once elected,” said shop-owner Rahamat Mia.

Nazrul Islam of Azampur said, “We continue to face waterlogging issues. The mayoral and councillor candidates must do something about it if they want our votes.”

Mostafa Kamal, a private job holder from Uttarkhan, said their main concern is waste management and the mayoral candidates should give priority to that.

Amid such expectations from people, Awami League and BNP mayoral candidates continued their campaigns. BNP’s Tabith Awal started his at 9am from Azampur in Uttara while AL’s Atiqul Islam began his in Mirpur around noon.

Tabith was seen holding sheaves of paddy -- electoral symbol of BNP -- while campaigning.

Tabith Awal shakes hands with a resident in Uttara’s Azampur. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Collected

Atiqul Islam waves at people in Mirpur-1. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Collected

“Dakkhinkhan and Uttarkhan areas have waterlogging problems. These areas came under DNCC recently and they are yet to get necessary civic facilities,” he said, promising that he will provide all the due facilities to the area, once elected mayor.

Tabith also inaugurated campaign offices of the BNP councillor candidates. He ended his campaign in Khilkhet area around 5:30pm.

Meanwhile, Atiqul spent most of the day in Mirpur, talking to residents and greeting passers-by.

He promised to address waterlogging issues in the area and making the city women-friendly and congestion-free. “I have worked for you [people] as a mayor for nine months. I want to continue serving you,” he told a rally in Mirpur-1.

DSCC

Awami League mayor candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh started his campaign from the historic Rose Garden mansion in Old Dhaka around 11am.

He continued his campaign in the old part of the town throughout the day, greeting residents and handing out leaflets among passers-by.

At one point, he visited the residence of former mayor of Dhaka City Corporation Sadeque Hossain Khoka in Gopibagh and spoke to locals. Khoka’s son is BNP mayor candidate Ishraque Hossain.

While talking to journalists there, Taposh  said he believes in political harmony, which will prevail in Dhaka from now on as development can be attained through coordination and cooperation.

Ishraque, on the other hand, started the day near Kamalapur Railway Station. He visited Shahjahanpur Railway Colony and spoke to residents.