A day of reflection for Taposh

For Awami League mayoral nominee Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, yesterday was a day of prayers and reflection as he went to the Banani graveyard in the afternoon to offer special prayers for his parents’ departed souls.

His parents -- Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and Arzoo Moni -- were assassinated along with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975.

Yesterday, Taposh, a former lawmaker from Dhaka-10, did not conduct any campaign for the elections to the Dhaka South City Corporation.

According to the electoral code of conduct, no candidate is allowed to do any sort of campaigning 32 hours before the election, scheduled to be held today.

Earlier in the day, Taposh went to the Faridabad Madrasa mosque at Gendaria for Juma prayers.

He sought blessings for all and also hoped that he would be able to come back to the mosque again for prayers.

Though journalists were waiting outside for his comments, he did not talk to them and went to the Banani graveyard to visit his parents’ grave.

Afterwards, he went back home.

Around 5pm, the mayoral aspirant went to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to see Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader. The general secretary of Awami League, was admitted to BSMMU around 10:30am yesterday with respiratory problems. He also inquired about the minister’s health condition.

From there, Taposh went to the party office in Dhanmondi where he spoke to leaders and activists of the party and its front organisations about the polls.

Taposh will cast his vote at Dr Malika University College centre in Dhanmondi.

On January 29, the AL candidate unveiled his manifesto with a plan to turn Dhaka south into a tourist destination. There are potentials that need to be explored, he said while revealing his election manifesto at AL headquarters on Bangabandhu avenue.

His other pledges include turning the old central jail into an amusement park featuring theatres; revamping the areas surrounding Buriganga and Shitalakhya rivers; reviving Old Dhaka; introducing a hop-on hop-off bus service; holding crash programmes to control the Aedes mosquito population and prevent dengue outbreaks and freeing footpaths from hawkers and illegal occupants.

He also said, “DSCC will be the first autonomous organisation to rid itself of corruption.”