Contrasting atmosphere in neighbouring constituencies

In the neighbouring constituencies of Chattogram-12 (Patiya) and Chattogram-13 (Anwara and Karnaphuli), an opposite situation has been prevailing since the beginning of campaign.

In one constituency, posters, banners and camps of almost all candidates were visible, while the other was flooded with only those of the Awami League contestant. 

During a visit on Thursday, this correspondent saw enthusiasm among voters as well as leaders and activists of contesting parties in Patiya upazila, although some expressed concern about fair polls.

In Bhatikhine union, several hundred leaders and activists were seen accompanying and campaigning for BNP candidate Enamul Haque.

In Chhanahara, Haidgaon, Kelishahar and Kachuai unions, posters and banners of at least five candidates were hung while camps of both AL and BNP were found.

Jainal Abedin, 40, a resident of Chhanahara union, said existence of peaceful polling atmosphere is a long-held tradition in the upazila. “Throughout my life, I never saw violence during any election in this union or in the neighbouring ones,” he said.

Echoing him, sexagenarian Tapan Paul of Bhatikhine said he voted freely in all elections since 1991.

While chatting with fellow villagers at a tea stall in Haidgaon, 80-year-old Jahir Ahmed said he thinks the election would be fair. But mason Jarip Ali and rickshaw-puller Zakir Hossain have a differing opinion. The administration is “favouring” the ruling party candidate, they said.

Md Salahuddin, a BNP activist in Kelishahar union, said police were conducting raids every night to arrest party leaders and activists. “Awami League followers do not stop our campaign but police are spreading fear among BNP activists,” he said.

Local Juba Dal activist Rizwan Uddin also expressed doubt about fair polls in the present situation.

Zakir Alamder, a Swechchhashebak League activist, said they did not create obstacles in anyone's campaign. “Awami League candidate Shamsul Haque Chowdhury believes in peaceful co-existence,” he said.

Meanwhile, the scenario is completely opposite in adjacent Anwara and Karnaphuli upazilas where all posters, banners and camps belong to AL candidate Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed. The atmosphere is also gloomy, and people fear talking about polls.

“I've seen several elections but none was like this one,” said Abdul Jalil, a rickshaw van-puller of Karnaphuli. “The ruling party men don't let other candidates put up posters and banners.”

He said BNP candidate Sarwar Jamal Nizam also has to take responsibility of the present situation because he remained absent in the area for a long time, in the last 10 years.

Md Yunus, a betel-nut seller of Anwara, said he was still not sure whether he would go to vote. “The situation is tense... I fear violence on election day,” he said.

Contacted, BNP candidate Sarwar Jamal said they could not hang posters due to obstacles by AL men and police. “Over 50,000 posters of mine have been removed,” he said, adding, “Police are conducting drives at homes of my activists.”

“We're waiting for army deployment,” he said. “The situation will change in five days.”

Officer-in-Charge of Anwara Police Station Dulal Mahmud denied the allegation of wholesale arrests. “We are conducting drives only to arrest those accused in cases,” he said. “You can contact the court inspector to verify it.”

AL candidate Saifuzzaman could not be contacted. About the allegations, MA Mannan Chowdhury, general secretary of Anwara upazila AL, said the BNP candidate did not hang any poster nor did he set up any camp. “The fact is, he remained absent from the area for the last 10 years, so he has no relation with local BNP activists,” he said.