With voter list in hand, they were giving last-minute instructions to volunteers for the voting day tomorrow. And they were confident that Mohiuddin, also incumbent mayor, would win the polls. " There is no doubt about his victory," one of them told newsmen who stepped into the camp yesterday.

Similar optimism about victory of the other main mayoral candidate was perceived at a camp in Sholoshahar area for the BNP-backed ruling alliance candidate Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin.

The CCC polls virtually made the port city vibrant with enthusiasm everywhere on the final day of the polls campaign yesterday.

"There is no alternative to Mohiuddin for development of Chittagong," said Amir Hossain. Yousuf, Shafi and other volunteers at the camp echoed him.

They mentioned that in their polling centres -- Bagmonirum boys' and grils' high schools -- AL candidates had always won by a big margin. In the 1994 mayoral polls, Mohiuddin defeated Mir Nasir by 2,000 votes, and in the 2001 parliamentary elections, AL candidate MA Mannan got 17,000 votes more than BNP's Abdullah Al Noman.

They said they will vote for Mohiuddin again for his immense contribution to the development of Chittagong, including their localities. He waived holding tax and didn't impose any new tax. Whenever any problems arose in their areas, he helped them immediately. He is a friend in need, they added.

On Mir Nasir, they said that during his tenure as mayor in the past and now as minister, he did nothing for the development of Chittagong.

"Neither Mir Nasir nor any other ruling alliance ministers ever visited our locality. So, there is no reason to support him," Yousuf said.

They like Mohiuddin more as a person than as an AL leader, he added.

Mir Nasir's camp
In a Sholoshahar camp for Mir Mohammad Nasir, his supporters said he is sure to emerge victorious in the mayoral race.

They work for him for his loyalty to the ideals of founder of the BNP late president Ziaur Rahman, and not for any gains, said Karimul Mostafa Lavlu and Md Yasin, two BNP men who are in-charge of the camp.

Mir Nasir is honest and sincere, and he made remarkable contribution to the development of the port city during his 31-month stint as mayor in the past, they said.

But Mohiuddin, mayor for the last 10 years, has done little for the development of Chittagong, and their areas, both said.

Mostafa, a voter at Abdul Jalil School centre, said Mohiuddin is Number-1 voter at this centre located close to his residence but he suffered defeat at the centre in the previous polls.