BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia finally joined the electioneering for her party-backed candidates of the April 28 city polls by carrying out hectic campaigns in different areas of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) for its mayoral contestant Tabith Awal. Without any prior announcement and schedule, Khaleda along with BNP vice chairman Selima Rahman and some party leaders and activists came out of her residence around 4:15pm to carry out electioneering. She first went to Pink City in the Gulshan-2 area and started her campaign by seeking votes from shoppers and shopkeepers in a market there for BNP-supported mayoral candidate Tabith. During her nearly five-hour electioneering, Khaleda talked to voters and urged them to vote for ‘Bus’, the election symbol of Tabith and she herself distributed his leaflets. Later, she visited different wards of Guslhan-2, DCC Market, Navana Tower in Gulshan-1, Badda, and Banani areas while her personal aides in loudspeakers raised various slogans like, “Take Khaleda Zia’s Salam (salute) and vote for Bus symbol.” Tabith joined Khaleda at Banani at road no-11 around 7:05pm and conducted frantic electioneering some areas of Bnanai. At one stage, Tabith taking permission from Khaleda went to join a TV channel’s programme. Later, she together with her party men and staff members visited Mohakhali Bus Stand, Tejgaon and Hatirjheel areas. Khaleda was seen to woo the voters saying, “Cast your vote for Tabith for ensuring development of the city and bringing a change.” As a voter at Hatirjheel asked Khaleda how much response she was getting from people, an overwhelming Khaleda replied ‘huge and unbelievable.” Abruptly seeing Khaleda, a former prime minister, in front of them at markets, bus stand and on the city streets begging votes, many people were found very enthusiastic. Two young girls were seen phoning their near and dear ones saying that Khaleda Zia has just sought votes from them. Khaleda formally began her city polls campaign canvassing for Tabith, bringing a momentum in the electioneering of the pro-BNP candidates. Though Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition in parliament Raushon Ershad and other ministers cannot join the electioneering as per the election code of conduct, there is no legal bar to Khaleda in joining the election campaigns or electoral activities as she is not holding any such position. Earlier on Pahela Baishakh, she joined a New Year celebration programme in front of her party’s Nayaplatn headquarters and urged the voters of three city corporations to make a silent revolution by casting their ballots in favour of her party-blessed mayoral candidates and thus show the current ‘repressive regime’ their power. Though there was speculation that Khaleda will carry out campaign for BNP-blessed mayoral candidates, the party did not announce her campaign schedule earlier for ‘strategic reason’, party sources said. According to the sources, the BNP chief suddenly came out sensing that the government might create obstacles to her campaigning if it was announced earlier. Tabith’s father and Khaleda’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo said the BNP chief’s campaign has invigorated the party men to come out in the field to join the electioneering. “I think a mass wave will be created in favour of BNP-backed candidates following Khaleda Zia’s mass campaign. Party men will now take to the streets braving the fear of their arrest,” he told UNB. BNP sources said Khaleda will also conduct election campaign for a few days before April 27. –UNB, Dhaka.
