Ehsanul Haque Jasim :Although the Election Commission (EC) has asked to remove billboards and posters of the aspiring candidates by 48 hours, these were visible at different parts of Dhaka on Sunday, two days after the stipulated time. The billboards, posters and banners were also still flooding in Chittagong city. Visiting different areas in Dhaka, it was seen that some aspiring mayoral and councilor candidates on Sunday pasted fresh posters violating the law. However, some others pulled down their posters following the EC’s instruction, while some others are not paying heed to the instruction. The aspiring candidates put up the posters on roadside walls, fences, buildings and other establishments. The posters and billboards were stuck greeting the city dwellers, seeking their blessings and supports. The aspiring candidates also highlighted their quality in the posters. The posters were also seen with their portraits and commitments. In some areas, balloons were also seen with the portraits and the commitments. These were also pasted by others on behalf of the candidates. AL leader Awlad Hossain’s posters were seen at Motijheel and some other areas in the city. In a poster, he has identified himself as mayor candidate of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Many small billboards and posters of mayoral aspirant Haji Mohammad Selim MP were seen at Ramna and some other areas. Posters of Jatiya Party leader Saifuddin Ahmed Milon flooded every lane of Moghbazar, Mouchak and Ramna areas. The trees, walls, fences at Tikatuli, Fakirerpool, Mintu Road, Kakrail, Kamlapur and Segunbagicha areas were flooded with the posters of Ratna Sarwar, Jahidul Islam Tipu, Harun Chowdhury, Farid Uddin Ratan, Md Ibrahim Azad, GM Atiqur Rahman, Abul Kalam Azad, Advocate MA Hamid Khan, Sheikh Rasel Razu, Mahbuba Chaklader Kanon, Aman Ullah Chowdhury, and Md Selim Parvez as aspirant candidates for councillor posts.AL leader Zahidul Islam Tipu pasted fresh poster at Kamlapur and some areas on Saturday and Sunday identifying him as a councillor candidate. Posters of Helena Jahangir, who is identifying her as the first woman mayor candidate in city polls, were seen at Segunbagicha, a part of the DSCC, although she is likely to contest from the DNCC. Her posters and festoons are available at Gulshan and other areas of the DNCC. Many colourful posters of another mayoral candidate of DNCC Bahauddin Ahmed Babul were seen in different parts of Farmgate to Mirpur area.A correspondent from Chittagong reports that the prospective candidates for Chittagong City Corporation polls are doing the same as Dhaka. Announcing the polls schedule, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on March 18 asked the aspiring candidates to remove posters and billboards within 48 hours. The 48 hours concluded on Friday.The EC warned that it would take legal actions against the people found violating rules and regulations. “We will start special drives with the help of law enforcers to remove the posters, leaflets and banners soon. We will also take actions against the violators,” said Mihir Sarwar Morshed, Returning Officer for DSCC. DNCC’s Returning Officer Shah Alam said they would take actions against the advance campaigners. No campaign can be carried out before April 7.
