Campaign gathers pace as central leaders join
With central leaders from both Awami League (AL) and BNP joining electioneering in support of their mayor candidates, campaign for Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls has started to gain momentum.
Although campaigning started on January 8, central leaders from both the parties were yet to join.
Ahmad Hossain, the AL central organising secretary in Chattogram division, was the first central leader of the party to join campaign for AL nominated mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury on January 15.
He attended a views-exchange with party leaders and activists on that day and urged all to be united and work for Rezaul's victory.
Hossain also warned the councillor candidates, who are contesting the polls defying party decision, of facing tough action saying that they would not be considered for nomination in any polls in future.
Afterwards, he went to different areas of the city and spoke to locals.
Although AL presidium member Eng Mosharraf Hossain is the main coordinator of CCC polls management committee for AL mayor candidate, he was not seen in the campaigns yet.
According to AL sources, he was primarily engaged in coordination and managing the campaign. They said veteran leaders would not take part in campaigning that much due to the pandemic.
Contacted, Ahmad Hossain said, "More central leaders would join [the campaign] in a day or two," he said. "Actually, the pandemic has changed the way we conduct campaigns..."
Asked, AL mayor candidate Rezaul said Engr Mosharraf and the central organising secretary have already joined his campaign. More central leaders would arrive soon.
Meanwhile, BNP central standing committee member Ameer Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury joined the campaign for BNP candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain on January 18.
He attended a views-exchange with party leaders and activists to formulate a strategy for electioneering.
BNP central organising secretary (Chattogram division) Mahbubor Rahman Shamim, however, has been actively involved with the campaign since January 8.
Similar to AL camp, due to the pandemic, many veteran central leaders of BNP will not participate in the campaign actively, said party sources.
Contacted, Shamim told The Daily Star they are being cautious due to the Covid-19 situation.
"Khasru bhai is already here. I have been conducting campaign from the very first day," he said. "More central leaders would come to Chattogram soon."
Asked, BNP mayor candidate Shahadat said central leaders including party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir would come to Chattogram soon to campaign for him.
Meanwhile, arrival of central leaders have also made supporters and activists of both AL and BNP more enthusiast.
Abdur Rahman, an AL activist in Panchlaish area, and Emdad Hossain, a BNP activist in Bakalia area, said their parties have been campaigning relentlessly in different areas everyday.
CCC polls is scheduled to be held on January 27.
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