KCC polls: Campaigning now intense
With the Khulna City Polls just two days away, major mayor contenders are campaigning with vigour to woo voters.
Former mayor and Awami League nominee Talukder Abdul Khaleque is asking for votes so that he can complete his unfinished work while Jatiya Party's Shafiqul Islam Madhu has been campaigning focusing on the former mayor's track record.
Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) nominee Md Abdul Awal believes women voters would be key in this race and his campaign is putting in extra efforts to persuade them.
Awal and Shafiqul's campaigns are also after BNP supporters' favour since the party is boycotting the polls.
Locals and AL leaders believe the turnout on Monday could be poor because the BNP is not in the race. The mayor candidates' main concern right now is getting their base and other voters to show up at the polling stations, they said.
AL's Khaleque hit the ground running when campaigning began on May 26.
He has been highlighting ongoing projects, like those for resolving the waterlogging problem, waste management, and renovation of roads.
Yesterday, he began electioneering at 7:30am in the Molbazar area and later went to Sheikhpara and Chanmari Bazar areas. He also held a views-exchange meeting with Community Development Committee members in Ward-31.
"Around 250 projects that I undertook during my tenure are ongoing. I am seeking votes so that I can complete those unfinished works," he told The Daily Star.
Pledging to solve waterlogging and waste management problems, IAB's Awal and his supporters have been trying to woo female voters.
A team of female activists of the party was working in the city.
Talking to The Daily Star, Sheikh Mohammad Nasir, chief coordinator of Awal's campaign, was very optimistic.
He said, "Since we have our own vote bank, our voters will go to the polling stations to cast their votes. Besides, the votes of other Islamic-minded people and the BNP supporters will also go in our favour."
Awal campaigned in Gollamari, Tutpara Jorakol Bazar, Bandabazar, and ward 14, 30, and 31 yesterday.
Awal said, "I believe the city residents will not be deceived this time. They will get me elected due to their bitter experience with the previous mayors."
He also pledged to run the city as per Shariah law.
Jatiya Party is also eyeing the vote bank of BNP and voters with anti-incumbency sentiments.
Sources in Shafiqul's campaign said they are conducting door-to-door electioneering irrespective of the party ideology of the voters there.
"We are putting in all-out effort in every ward, especially the BNP-leaning ones. We are reaching out to everyone and trying them to bring to the polling centres," a joint general secretary of Khulna JP told this paper.
POLLS CODE OF CONDUCT
Violating the electoral code of conduct, Khaleque and his supporters campaigned during Friday prayers at Baitun Noor Jame Masjid in Khulna's New Market area.
According to the Election Code of Conduct, candidates are not allowed to campaign in places of worship.
Khaleque delivered a five-minute speech, sought blessings from everyone and urged them to go to the polling stations on election day.
After the prayers, around 20 supporters of Khaleque distributed campaign leaflets among the devotees inside the mosque.
A colourful election festoon of Khaleque was seen in the Rupsha Bus Terminal area.
Contacted, Khaleque said he did not violate any election code by seeking blessings and that he had no idea who put up the festoon there.
[Our Khulna correspondent also contributed to this report]
Comments