While BNP's mayoral candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul is busy explaining national issues including his party chairperson's “sufferings” in jail to woo the voters, Awami League's AHM Khairuzzaman Liton is leaning towards one local issue -- changing Rajshahi city for the better.

In his campaigns, Liton has been highlighting his slogan “Let us change Rajshahi city”. While campaigning at New Market area yesterday, Liton said, “If you want development of the city and change in the fates of citizens, vote for boat.”

He claims that he is the most capable of the candidates for lobbying with the government for allocation of funds for development. He says, he has many “incomplete development projects” and wants a chance again to complete them.

When Liton was mayor of Rajshahi city [through the 2008 election], the beautification of the city drew attention of many across the country. He rebuilt the roads, created recreation venues on Padma river banks, made concerted efforts to attract investors and even succeeded at that. The supply of natural gas reached the city during his time.

However, it was also during his time as a mayor when concerned authorities began digging up the newly built city roads for installing gas pipelines. Most of the roads that were dug up since 2010 were hardly repaired, making vehicular movement difficult.

With Bulbul winning the 2013 election, the development works came to a halt. Regular works of the city's waste management were in disarray. Chaos arose over taxes, and salaries of the corporation staff.  

Bulbul claims that he could not work smoothly as the government suspended him twice. Fighting legal battles, Bulbul retained his post for 26 months, out of his 60-month tenure.

Liton in his campaigns said, Bulbul was “incapable of managing the city affairs and lobbying with the government.” He cited example of Sylhet and said that city's development was not hindered in similar situations.

Bulbul in his campaign said that most of the development processes implemented during Liton's time were planned during the previous BNP Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu's tenure.

He blamed Liton for patronising drugs peddlers and sand traders of the city.

“BNP leaders are more organised than ever,” Bulbul said, adding, “We will risk our lives to participate in the elections.”