Staff Reporter :The Election Commission (EC) on Friday allocated symbols among the candidates vying for the posts of mayor and councillor in the upcoming three city corporation elections.In Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Awami League-backed mayoral aspirant Sayeed Khokan got ‘Hilsa’ symbol while BNP-backed candidate Mirza Abbas was given ‘Mug’ symbol.On the other hand, in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral race, Awami League-supported candidate Annisul Huq got ‘Table Clock” symbol while BNP-backed aspirant Tabith Mohammad Awal, son of BNP leader Abdul Awal Mintoo, obtained ‘Bus’ symbol.In Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls, BNP-backed mayor candidate M Manzoor Alam got ‘Orange’ symbol while Awami League-backed aspirant AJM Nasir Uddin received ‘Elephant’ symbol. After the allocation of poll symbols, a festive mood has started prevailing in capital Dhaka and the port city Chittagong as elections to the three city corporations will be held on April 28.The mayor and councillor candidates along with their supporters have already engaged in election campaign in the city corporation areas.Meanwhile, the mayor candidates have pledged to solve different problems of the city dwellers which they have long been facing for long like traffic jam, water logging and corruptions ahead of the city polls.Returning Officer Shah Alam allocated the symbols to the candidates for mayor aspirants of Dhaka North while Returning Officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed for hopefuls of Dhaka South.A representative of named Iqbal collected the allotted polls-symbol for Annisul Huq from the concerned Election Commission office while Tabith Awal collected his symbol himself.After securing the polls-symbol Hilsa, Sayeed Khokon said that the symbol Hilsa was the legacy of his father — Mohammad Hanif — who was a Dhaka mayor for a long time.”Hilsa was my father’s electoral symbol and I got it as electoral tradition. I am happy with that symbol,” he told reporters.He started his election campaign from a community centre at Dholaikhal with exchanging of views with people from all walks of life.BNP-backed candidate Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas started the campaign from AGB colony in Motijheel area in the morning on behalf of her husband.The BNP leader, now hiding, is facing cases, and waiting to secure bails from the High Court in some cases to start his campaign.Flanked by BNP leaders and activists, Afroza sought blessings and support of the city dwellers for her husband.She alleged that the members of law enforcing agencies are harassing the leaders and workers of BNP when they launch poll campaign at their respective areas.”Our electoral campaign is being hampered as the law enforcers are harassing our leaders and workers in many ways,” Afroza told journalists. DNCC mayor candidate Annisul Huq said if BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia launches campaign in favour of her party-backed mayor candidate there will no level playing field. “However, I think if BNP Chairperson is in the field for campaign, it will be tough competition,” he said while addressing an exchange of views meeting at Lotus Kamal Tower at Khilkhet in the city.He said that he has been visiting door to door of voters since a week to get their support and vote.”I’m trying to reach every voter. Now I’m working hard for getting vote and if I’m elected I will continue to do hard work to make capital Dhaka a green city,” he said. On the other hand, BNP-backed candidate Tabith Awal started his poll campaign after offering Juma prayers at Ambar Shah Mosque at Karwan Bazar in city.Tabith, also the vice president of Bangladesh Football Federation, promised to build Dhaka as a “clean and modern city” if voted to power.”I hope that the Election Commission will create a level playing field. I would like to make capital Dhaka an international and modern city,” he told local traders and people there.He said the BNP-led 20-party alliance has extended all-out support to him and he is confident about his victory.”I just have started campaign. But in the meantime, the common people have extended their support in favour of me,” Tabith said. Jatiya Party-backed mayor candidate Saifuddin Milon for Dhaka South secured ‘Sofa’ as his electoral symbol for the coming city polls.For Dhaka North, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh leader Mahi B Chowdhury was given Eagle, Jatiya Party leader Bahauddin Ahmed Charka and Gono Sanghati Andolan’s Junaid Abdur Rahim Saki ‘Telescope’.Also for mayoral race, Communist Party of Bangladesh-backed candidate Abdul Al Kafi got ‘Elephant’ and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal candidate Nader Chowdhury Peacock’ to contest for the Dhaka North.In CCC, Solaiman Alam Sheikh, Jatiya Party-backed mayor hopeful was allocated ‘Dish antenna’ as his election symbol.After receiving polls symbol, Sarwar Alam, son of mayor aspirant Manjur Alam, told reporters that his father got ‘orange’ symbol. “We are happy after getting ‘orange’ as our electoral symbol.”AJM Nasir said his mother has chosen ‘Elephant’. “And I got it fortunately.” Councillor candidates have also started election campaigns in the three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong.
