Rangpur city polls: AL eyes victory, JP worries over EVM

With the Rangpur City Corporation election only a few days away, mayor and councillor candidates are passing busy times campaigning to ensure votes.

Campaigning for the polls, set to be held on December 27, started on December 9 and will continue till midnight on December 25.

Nine candidates from different political parties, including the ruling Awami League and Jatiya Party, are vying for the mayor post.

BNP is not participating in the election.

During the campaign, most of the candidates are pledging to develop the city and improve civic life.

According to city dwellers, contest for the mayor post is mainly between JP and AL candidates. Both the parties' candidates declared their election manifestos and are joining multiple election campaigns every day.

Consequently, the entire Rangpur city is in a festive mood, with roads full of posters and banners of the contenders.

Campaign booths have also been set up at all 33 wards. These corners remain abuzz with supporters from morning to midnight. The supporters are seeking votes through loudspeakers every day.

No untoward incident has taken place yet.

Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia, the mayoral candidate of AL, has been attending four to five election campaigns every day. 

In a recent campaign at Medical Mor area, she claimed that the city's development is insufficient, as there has been no elected representative from AL during the last five years. She urged people to vote for boat -- AL's electoral symbol.

However, party insiders said AL rebel candidate Latifur Rahman, former vice president of Rangpur Kotwali AL, could turn out to be a headache for the ruling party, as he will get a part of AL's votes.

Latifur, who was expelled from the party recently, is also attending electoral campaigns on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, JP candidate Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa continued his campaign at Shapla intersection, Grand Hotel Mor, Salek Market, Shah Jamal Market and Jibon Bima areas this week.

The former mayor, however, said he is worried whether electronic voting machines (EVM) will bring any benefit.

Mostafa said around 60 percent areas of the city still remain underdeveloped.

About holding tax, he said it will be imposed only when the dwellers of those areas get their desired services.

Other mayoral candidates are Shafiar Rahman of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu), Amiruzzaman Pial of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Touhidur Rahman Mondal Raju of Khelafat Majlish, Khorshed Alam Khokan of Jaker Party, Abu Raihan of Bangladesh Congress and independent candidate Mehdi Hasan.

Besides, 246 councillor candidates -- including 67 for reserved seats for women under 11 wards -- are going to contest in the election, according to the Election Commission. The total number of voters is 4,26,469. The polls will be held at 229 centres through EVM.

Meanwhile, a set number of EVMs will be kept as backup, and an expert team will be on standby to provide support during election hours, said election commissioner Rasheda Sultana.

She said this to local journalists while visiting Rangpur yesterday.

Rasheda also held a meeting with presiding officers at Rangpur Government College Auditorium.