‘BNP will win big if polls are free of vote-rigging, intimidation’

BNP mayoral candidate for the Chattogram City Corporation election Dr Shahadat Hossain yesterday said if authorities ensure an election free of intimidation and vote-rigging, BNP will win by a massive margin in the mayoral election, scheduled to take place on March 29.

On the second day of campaigning, Shahadat was speaking at South Pahartholi of the port city.

BNP Vice-President Abdullah Al Noman joined the campaign, along with Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, standing committee member of the party.

Shahadat urged the authorities, including the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies, to play an impartial role in the election.

He said waterlogging is one of the biggest issues of the port city, and ruling party Awami League did nothing to rid people of the crisis.

"If BNP gets people's mandate in the mayoral election, we will take steps to eradicate the waterlogging problem", he said.

Claiming that a large number of people are joining their campaign, Shahadat said people will be his key resources in battling irregularities at the election.

Shahadat campaigned at South Pahartholi, South Kattoli and Jalalabad yesterday, as his supporters and activists joined him in a festive mood.

They handed over leaflets to electorates, urging them to turn up at the polling centre on voting day.

Shahadat said he has been involved in politics for the last 34 years, and knows very well how to organise a planned city for the people.

Abul Hasem Bakkar, general secretary of BNP city unit; Abu Sufian, senior vice president of the city unit; and Mahbubur Rahman Shamim were present, among others, at his campaign.