Sylhet Bureau :
Campaigning for Sylhet city corporation elections has gained momentum with only a week in hand for polling slated for July 30. The mayoral hopefuls in the three cities, especially those backed by the ruling Awami League (AL) and the BNP, are carrying on hectic mass contact programmes from early morning to midnight to woo voters with promises of building a modern city, if elected.
The BNP and AL mayoral candidates are levelling allegations against each other. The BNP candidates are accusing the police of harassing and threatening their campaigners, while the ruling party-backed candidates are accusing their rivals of resorting to theatrics.
The poll campaigns will formally end at midnight on July 28.
Both the AL and the BNP mayoral candidates have set up election offices at important points and intersections as per rules. The AL and the BNP have formed teams with their central leaders to campaign in favour of their candidates and to oversee party activities during the polls. Voters said they would cast their votes considering all the aspects and efficiency of the candidates for the sake of development of their respective areas.
The BNP mayoral candidate, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, yesterday accused the police of harassing their party leaders and activists along with their family members. He alleged the EC did not take any action despite being told about the police harassment. Ruling party mayoral candidate Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran alleged that the BNP candidate was resorting to theatrics to woo voters. He also accused BNP-backed Ariful Haque of making provocative remarks.
Councilor candidate foiled EVM training programme
Barishal Correspondent
One ruling AL backed councilor candidate of ward 12 foiled Election Voting Machine (EVM) training Program at Nuria High School on Friday night.
After that Returning Officer (RO) on Saturday asked him to show cause over the incident. Locals said Zakir Hossain Vulu Al backed councilor candidate of ward 12 foiled the training programme as his opponent BNP led candidate demanded EVM in this ward.
KM Sahidul Islam, BNP backed councilor candidate said while EVM training started at Nuria High School center under ward no. 12 on Friday afternoon, AL nominated councilor candidate Zakir and his associates tried to vandalize machine and assault assistant returning officer. Then the programme was cancelled.
Asst. RO Helal Uddin said, Zakir tried to vandalize EVM machine and showed arms to EC official. A show cause letter sent to him asking to reply explaining cause of his act within 24 hours of receiving.
`If the accused would fail to give satisfactory answer, then the candidature of him may be cancelled’, he added.
Accused Zakir, acknowledged that he received showcase notice. He said that he was not informed about the EVM training programme, his opponent candidates may organized it.
I only asked the EC official why he ignored me about organizing the EVM training propgramme. Only some altercation with EC official was held and I did not show any arms and not vandalize progrmme, Zakir claimed.
RCC councilor candidates promise to establish social justice
BSS, Rajshahi
Twelve councilor candidates, including four for women reserved seats, in the Ward No-16 and 18 of the upcoming election of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) scheduled to be held on July 30, promised to establish social justice if they were elected. They also expressed their firm commitment of providing improved civic services together with freeing the society from all curses like child marriage, dowry, drug-addiction, terrorism and other crimes.
Besides, they will extend support towards transforming the city corporation administration into a corruption-free and pro-people entity. The contestants made this commitment while taking part in two separate “Face-to-Face with People” programmes in the city on Sunday afternoon. Joining the programme, the candidates responded to a volley of questions raised by the participants.
Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) organised the programme on the playground of Malda Colony and Alif Lam Meem Bhata crossing to make arrangement for the voters to ask their questions to the candidates. The voters reminded the candidates that it was their moral responsibility to abide by the commitments they make before the election.
Sujan leaders called upon the voters to elect honest and competent candidates in the ward councilor polls to strengthen democracy and socio-economic development in the area.
The participating voters expressed solidarity with the call and signed a 13-point declaration at the event for a peaceful, free and fair election.
The voters also declared that they will boycott corrupts, terrorists, war criminals, violators against women, drug-peddlers and loan defaulters in the election.
