Only cheer from polls campaign
Political mudslinging has long been a key feature in Bangladesh politics, but the city polls have given people hopes that the culture of electioneering might see a change for the better.
The election campaigns, which began on April 7 in Dhaka and Chittagong cities, were different in many aspects from the ones the country witnessed in the past.
Almost all mayoral candidates and their supporters carried out electioneering, complying with the electoral code of conduct. But of course there were a few exceptions.
People saw new approaches from the mayoral aspirants: The candidates shared the same stage on a few occasions, had discussions and gave their views on solving the decades-long problems in the capital.
Some ran campaigns riding bicycles or public bus, cleaning roads with brooms or jogging with general people. They even used the social media in every way possible.
Holding each other's hands, they had their group photos taken. Some of them even visited homes of their rivals -- a rare scene in the country's confrontational politics.
The candidates engaged their family members, especially their wives, in the campaigns. BNP-backed mayor and councillor candidates, who didn't appear in public fearing arrest, depended on their family members.
Afroza Abbas, wife of BNP-endorsed mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas in Dhaka south, campaigned for her husband, an accused in several cases, all along.
Over the 21 days of electioneering, the candidates backed by the AL, the BNP and other parties showed tolerance towards their rivals, and refrained from lambasting one another.
The mayoral aspirants rather focused on city problems and came up with solutions.
In the previous elections, people witnessed violent street battles between supporters of rival candidates. But this time, the candidates and their supporters didn't indulge in such acts.
The exceptions were the attacks on the motorcade of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and on mayoral candidate in Dhaka north Mahi B Chowdhury, also joint secretary general of Bikolpodhara Bangladesh.
AL-backed mayoral candidates Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon condemned the attack on Khaleda's motorcade even after the identities of the attackers were exposed by the media.
Annisul went to see Mahi at a city hospital after he came under attack in the early hours of Sunday.
The mayoral candidates were respectful of each other while carrying out campaigns.
Addressing his rival Mirza Abbas as uncle during an election campaign in Dhaka south, Sayeed Khokon told voters, "You saw Abbas chacha [uncle] as mayor … Now give me a chance."
Mirza Abbas' wife Afroza Abbas paid a sudden visit to Khokon's house and sought vote for her husband. Khokon also had plans to visit Abbas' house, but couldn't make it.
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