Election 2008A day with Bogra voters

They're still unaware about candidates, polls date

22 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra

A large number of voters in Bogra district, especially women, are yet to know the date of the upcoming parliamentary election and identity of the candidates in the constituencies concerned. It was revealed as The Daily Star correspondent recently talked to a number of voters in seven constituencies under Bogra district. Sources at district administration, however, said several organisations including NGOs and government establishments earlier conducted awareness programmes for the 'innocent' voters. Zulikha, 60, wife of a day labourer at Haddipotty in Bogra town, is a voter in Bogra-6 (Sadar) constituency. In a reply of a question about the candidates in the seat, she said, “Khaleda Zia [BNP chairperson], Sheikh Hasina [Awami League president] and Momtaz Uddin [AL Bogra district unit president] are contesting in the seat. “I don't know the election date,” Zulikha said, adding, “Six people including my husband Razzak Molla became voter in Jubilee School centre.” According to the election office BNP Chairperson Khelada Zia is contesting in Bogra-6 (Sadar) and Bogra-7 (Gabtoli-Shahjahanpur) constituencies. AL Bogra district unit President Momtaz Uddin is contesting for Bogra-6 seat as grand alliance candidate with 'boat' symbol. Three other candidates are also contesting for the same seat. AL President Sheikh Hasina is not a candidate for the seat. Mohammed Ashraf Uddin, 65, of Darihasraj Village under Sonatola upazila of the district, enrolled his name in the last voter list for Bogra-1 (Sariakandi-Sonatola) constituency. “I don't know who are contesting for the seat. I heard that only 'nouka' (boat) and 'dhaner shish' (sheaf of paddy) candidates are in the election,” he said. AL central leader Abdul Mannan is contesting for the seat as grand alliance nominated candidate and Mohammed Shokrana are contesting as BNP nominated candidate for the same seat, district election office sources said. “I know two candidates in this seat [Bogra-2]. Four-party alliance candidate AKM Hafizur Rahman has 'sheaf of paddy' symbol. But I don't know the symbol of grand alliance candidate Shariful Islam Jinnah. I am not sure about the election date,” said Mohammed Mozaffar Hossain, 55, of Baniapara Village in Shibganj upazila. Lazem, 37, of Pirapara Village in Kahaloo upazila said he knows Hossain Ali and Mamdudur Rahman as candidates for Bogra-4 (Kahaloo-Nandigram) constituency. According to the election office, the four persons contesting for the constituency are -- Mostafa Ali Mukul of BNP, AKM Rezaul Karim Tansen of JSD, Mamdudur Rhaman of LDP and Abdul Haque Azad (Islami Shashantantra Andolon). “I heard from locals that parliamentary election will be held on next Monday,” said Lazem. “I don't know who are contesting for this seat [Bogra-7 -- Gabtoli-Shahjahanpur]. I don't know the election date either,” said Swaraswati, 50, a housewife at Munshipukur village in Shahjahanpur upazila.