Exercise your right: Ishraque to voters

BNP’s mayoral nominee for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Ishraque Hossain yesterday called upon voters to cast their votes on polls day “in order to establish people’s rights”, overcoming panic and “threats from the ruling quarter”.

“I want to dedicate my life to establish people’s rights. So, don’t allow any obstacle and don’t be afraid of anyone,” he said, calling upon people to cast their votes.

Ishraque, son of former undivided Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, was speaking at a short rally at his Gopibagh home, at the closing of his electioneering yesterday evening.

The candidate of BNP’s election symbol “sheaf of paddy” said he has garnered enormous love from the people during electioneering in the last few days.

After thanking his party leaders and activists for their efforts in campaigns, Ishraque shouted slogans for his symbol while hundreds of BNP leaders and activists echoed him.

Earlier in the day, Ishraque participated in several meetings with local BNP leaders held at different parts of Old Dhaka, his birthplace.

Sources at those meetings said the mayoral candidate gave directives and exchanged views with top leaders on various strategies ahead of the election -- slated for tomorrow.   

Later in the afternoon, Ishraque campaigned in Tikatuli, Hatkhola, Central Women’s College, KM Das Lane, Gopibagh rail gate, and RK Mission Road areas.

Meanwhile, BNP yesterday urged the Election Commission to take visible and effective measures to ensure security to their party’s polling agents and voters on the day of elections. 

A delegation of the party’s DSCC election conducting committee made the demand in a meeting with returning officer Abdul Baten at his office, at Sadeque Hossain Khoka Community Centre at Gopibagh in the afternoon.

After the meeting, delegation leader Abdus Salam, also BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser, told journalists that they urged the EC to establish a level playing field, so that ruling party could not influence the elections in any way.

“We expressed grave concerns to the EC over the arrests of our leaders and activists and unnecessary search of their houses by police, as well as violations of electoral code of conduct by AL leaders and activists,” he said.

Salam alleged that the EC is yet to take any action against ruling party men who have been carrying out many irregularities since beginning of the campaign. “However, we have submitted a written complained to EC,” he said.

“Such role of EC has had a negative effect on city dwellers’ minds,” he added.

Among others, BNP organising secretaries Fazlul Haque Milon and Imran Saleh Prince, as well as assistant organising secretary Advocate Abdus Salam were also present at the meeting, Salam told journalists.