Chattogram City Corporation Election: BNP banking on voter turnout, peaceful polls

BNP leaders in the port city are chalking out campaign strategies to take on the Awami League-backed candidate in Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls scheduled to be held on January 27.

BNP is encouraging voters to go for the voting centres, assuring them that the elections would be fair if they go to the polling centres.

BNP activists say that voters have now developed an apathy to go to polling centres. They think their presence will not make a difference as polls would not be held fairly anyway.

"AL men took advantage of the low voter turnout in previous polls and so a lot of fake votes were cast," said a BNP leader preferring anonymity, "If a huge number of voters show up, it would be tough for ruling party men to cast fake votes."

BNP leaders are in apprehension of illegal firearms being used to hinder their party's campaigning activities. They say they are worried that AL will crowd the polling centres with non-voters from areas outside the CCC jurisdiction to create chaos, and discourage genuine voters from exercising their right.

Another BNP leader in Chattogram said this has happened in recent elections.

BNP is trying to put pressure on the administration to establish check posts around the city to prevent outside intervention during the polls.

The BNP camp is also doubtful about the security of electronic voting machine (EVM).

"We previously saw ruling party agents take over the EVMs so that voters couldn't cast their ballots," said a top leader of Chattogram city unit BNP. They are demanding enhanced security around EVMs.

Despite their best efforts, BNP leaders admit that it would be tough for their candidate, Dr Shahadat Hossain, to win.

BNP leaders said they want to conduct a peaceful campaign and avoid any clash with AL men to avoid further "harassment by police".

BNP has decided to save all its organisational strength in port city for the best use of it on the polls day, said BNP insiders.    

Contacted, Idris Ali, assistant office secretary of Chattogram city unit BNP, said police were conducting raids at the homes of BNP leaders and activists.

BNP-backed mayoral candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain said, "We are only afraid of the use of illegal firearms by AL men, but also of the illegal use of legal firearms."

"Ruling party men have already started attacking our activists. On Saturday, AL cadres attacked and vandalised my vehicle when I went to campaign at Halishahar," he added.

"I instantly informed it to returning officer over phone but no action has been taken yet," he said.

"We demand the administration to seize the illegal firearms on the days leading to the polls," he said, "Two men have died and many were injured in the span of a week due to polls-related violence in the city."

Asked, AL mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury denied any attack on BNP candidate. "The BNP candidate is spreading this to get sympathy of voters," he said.

Contacted, Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), said their drives to recover illegal firearms was ongoing.

"We have deployed 300 additional members alongside our regular force only to recover illegal arms," he said.

Asked about the attack on BNP candidate, he said no complaint was lodged by BNP with the police station.

Contacted, Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, returning officer of CCC polls, said he was looking into the allegation.