S M Mizanur Rahman :
Awami League-backed Sayeed Khokan and Annisul Huq, vying for mayor posts in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) respectively, began their formal electoral campaign on Tuesday.
In DSCC, Sayeed Khokan along with local AL local leaders and workers kicked off his poll campaign from the entry point of the mayor Mohammad Hanif flyover at Kutubkhali in city at about 11:00 am.
As part of his electoral campaign, he talked to the local people and traders and requested them to elect him as mayor like his father Mohammad Hanif in the past.
“Like my father I will sacrifice my life for the betterment of city dwellers. This flyover is the symbol of my father’s activities as well as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s development work,” he told the locals and traders.
Dhaka city unit AL acting president MA Aziz, local lawmaker Habibur Rahman Mollah and local leaders and workers were present during the mass contact.
In DNCC, Annisul Huq started his electoral campaign on Tuesday after offering prayers at his mother’s graveyard at Banani, paying rich tributes to martyrs at the National Mausoleum at Savar and placing wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi.
Later Annisul Huq along with local leaders and workers went to Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) to seek votes from the film artistes and employees at about 12.20 pm. They greeted Annis with bouquet flowers.
“Though there is a bar of taking flowers’ greeting, I received it as I spent sometimes here as an actor. I have started seeking votes from here,” he told the film artistes, leaders and employees.
He mentioned that BFDC has been facing various problems, including housing problem. “If I am elected as a mayor I will attach the highest importance on housing problem. Please cast your vote as well as pray for me.”
Annisul Huq pledged to make Dhaka ‘a green and safe city’ in three years as per his master plan, if voted to mayor.
AL leader and former foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni was also present during the campaign.
Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Mohammad Shah Newaz on Tuesday warned that if any candidate violates electoral code of conduct stern action would be taken against him or her.
“The concerned Returning Officer will go for tough action if any candidate violates the electoral code of conduct,’ the Election Commissioner told journalists at his EC Secretariat on Tuesday.
He added the mayor and councillor candidates have already started electoral campaign to woo the voters from Tuesday.
“And the candidates will be able to launch extensive poll campaign within three days after the allocation of election symbol,” he said.
The campaign will continue till 32 hours before voting starts at 8:00am on April 28. As per electoral code of conduct, contesting candidates are allowed to start campaign only in the last 21 days prior to the voting day.
The last date for candidacy withdrawal is April 9 and electoral symbols among the candidates will be allocated on April 10.
