BSS Chittagong :
The port city of Chittagong wore a festive look as candidates in the mayoral polls drummed up their campaigns ahead of the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) elections on April 28.
Witnesses and residents said as the election date was nearing, the campaign became more festive day by day from remote locality to busy center of the port city.
All 42 wards have been vibrating with virtually round-the-clock “high-voltage” polls campaign by the respective mayor and councilor candidates.
Small street side tea stall vendors appeared to be making brisk business as the supporters were trying to woo the voters who on the other hand were busy in calculating the prospect of candidates over a cup of tea.
The election issue is also dominating the talks in marketplaces and social gatherings like wedding parties even.
The mayoral and councilor candidates and their aides were passing almost sleepless nights for last one week when they were allowed to launch their campaign formally by the Election Commission (EC) making making door-to-door visits.
The EC officials visibly tightened their vigil as allegations were found that some rich candidates were distributing attractive objects in a tricky ways to their voters dodging the rules and regulations.
“But people are so conscious now. It would be difficult this time to influence the people in general by offering ‘bribes’ in the name of gifts,” Azizur Rahman, an elderly voters of Chawkbazar area told BSS.
Anwar Hossain, a social worker however , thinks that this year’s city corporation polls is an welcoming event as some jobless people in urban and rural areas got temporary employments for at least few weeks as the candidates engaged them in the campaigning.
“(But) It is not easy to get support of general masses by making lofty promises this year. People are now closely observing and thinking of issue-based pledges relating to local problems giving by the candidates before casting their votes to any one,” Reazaul Karim, a businessman of Reazuddin bazaar area opined.
Ruling Awami League (AL) supported Nagorik Committee-backed mayoral candidate
for CCC election AJM Nasir Uddin today carried out his campaign in person at Pahartali, Akbarshah, Foy’slake area.
Incumbent mayor and BNP-supported mayoral candidate M Manjur Alam at an election campaign in the city’s Kattloi area claimed the amount the CCC spent alone for the development of the port city during his tenure was far more than any time before.
