Staff Reporter :
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia took part in the election campaign for the party-backed candidates for second consecutive day on Sunday. She campaigned for Tabith Awal, the party-blessed mayor candidate in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) polls, at city’s Uttara area.
On her way to campaign points, the BNP Chief was barred by the ruling party men. Activists of the Awami League barricaded her motorcade at Jashimuddin Road at Uttara in the afternoon. They showed black flags and chanted slogans against the BNP Chief. They also hurled stone on her motorcade, witnesses said.
According to the witnesses, several hundred ruling party men, led by Awami League’s Uttara unit President Tofazzal Hossain and General Secretary Habib Hassan, gathered at the spot to obstruct Khaleda Zia. They backed off as a large number of BNP activists reached the spot. However, no untoward incident took place, as police and Khaleda Zia’s security personnel forced the AL men to stay away from the motorcade. The motorcade sped away for the next point of her campaign. Khaleda Zia also faced demonstration at House Building area. Activists of Jubo League, the youth wing of the Awami League, tried to obstruct her there. Before the incident, she was also shown black flags at Uttara Model Town area. Later, the BNP Chief reached her campaign points. She visited several shops and shopping malls in the area and sought votes for Tabith. Flanked by a number of the party, leaders and activists, she distributed leaflets seeking votes for Tabith and party-backed councillor candidates. Alongside Khaleda Zia, BNP supporters were also seen distributing leaflets and posters among the people. They used hand speakers during the campaign and chanted slogans.
At SB Plaza, Khaleda Zia requested a small gathering to vote for Tabith saying that she had placed candidates from the new generation. A mid-aged lady shopper thanked her for placing new face saying, ‘We will give votes. We want change.’
The BNP Chief also visited the Infinity Plaza and Ameer Shopping Complex at Uttara. Later, she went to Khilkhet, Shahjadpur and Baridhara, and conducted campaign there.
During the campaigning at Shahjadpur area, she talked to reporters. She reiterated her party’s demand of Army deployment in the city polls. She said that the people want Army deployment for fair elections. She also said that she got huge response from the voters in favour of BNP-backed candidates. She alleged that the ruling party men are barring her in different points.
Earlier, the BNP Chief joined the electioneering on Saturday. On that day, she also canvassed for Tabith at Gulshan, Badda, Baridhara, Tejgaon and Hatirjheel areas.
The ruling party leaders have questioned her coming to the scene for electioneering. They said that Khaleda Zia’s participation in the electioneering is violation of the election code.
The BNP and its supported candidates rejected the allegation, saying that they were abiding by the election rules and Khaleda Zia’s campaign did not violate the electoral code. “We don’t think that Khaleda Zia’s campaigning flouted any rule,” said Tabith Awal.
He believes that the involvement of the BNP chairperson in the election campaign will help him garner more support from the voters, as she has huge popularity. Tabith said talking to reporters at Mirpur.
He said that electoral rules prevent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad to engage in city polls campaigns. But, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is free to campaign. He, however, alleged that the AL-backed candidate Annisul Huq has been violating the election code.
