AL leaders unite, BNP seeks Jamaat support

Awami League mayoral candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton has started unofficial electioneering for the Rajshahi City Corporation polls while his main rival, BNP mayoral aspirant Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, is yet to start any sort of campaign.

Although it was a clear violation of electoral code of conduct, posters, banners, billboards and balloons were put up around the city -- wishing greetings as well as seeking votes for Liton. The Election Commission on June 21 removed those banners.

Talking to The Daily Star, Liton claimed the 14-party alliance leaders have extended their support to him.

In the previous RCC polls, Liton was supported by Nagorik Committee, which had conducted electioneering in his favour. 

This time Liton is carrying out his election campaign alone. A handful of his family members and leaders accompany Liton when he visits different city areas.

AL MPs in Rajshahi and local AL leaders at a meeting -- also attended by AL's joint general secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanok and organising secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury -- recently took an “oath” to work together in favour of Liton.

Sources in BNP said the Rajshahi city BNP held several meetings to fix their strategy for the RCC election to ensure Bulbul's victory.

The party is facing some problems from Jamaat, a key component in the BNP-led 20-party alliance as the Islamist party is yet to extend its support to Bulbul.

BNP insiders said Jamaat is demanding BNP's support for at least 14 general councillors' posts and two reserved seats for women in exchange for supporting Bulbul.

BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy visited Rajshahi on July 4 and insisted local BNP leaders to resolve the matter with Jamaat as soon as possible, said BNP insiders.

Talking to The Daily Star, Bulbul said the only problem in the upcoming RCC polls might be the ruling party's “preparations for vote robbery”.

“I have information that Awami League has formed at least 20 teams for stuffing ballot boxes in different voting centres,” he said, an allegation rejected by Bulbul's rival.

Three other mayoral candidates are Habibur Rahman (Bangladesh Jatiya Party), Shafiqul Islam (Islami Andolon) and Murad Morshed (Gana Shanghati Andolon).