Electioneering kicks off with festivities

Candidates running for mayor and ward councillor posts in the August 4 polls to four city corporations and nine municipalities formally started their door-to-door campaign yesterday after the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) was relaxed further.
Soon after the returning officers distributed election symbols among the candidates, the four city corporations and nine municipalities were abuzz with electioneering activities including procession, rallies and campaigning using loud speakers that were prohibited since January 11 last year after promulgation of the EPR.
The relaxation of the EPR aimed at facilitating electioneering, however, has a caveat that the campaign processions and rallies will be allowed only within the electoral areas during the stipulated campaign period in line with already promulgated new rules and code of conduct for city corporation and municipality elections.
KHULNA
The 14-party endorsed Khulna city mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque, also president of Khulna City Awami League (AL), started his campaign officially by laying floral wreath at the Gallamari memorial at 10:00am, reports our Khulna correspondent.
Khaleque has been assigned 'chair' as his election symbol.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) leader advocate M Feroze Ahmed, who was assigned 'umbrella' as his election symbol, kicked off his campaign by laying floral wreath at local Shahid Minar in the afternoon.
Muslim League (ML) leader advocate Moslemuddin was allotted 'inkpot' symbol. He and his supporters began their campaign by forming a human chain at 10:30am at Picture Palace Cinema Hall intersection in the city.
Both the CPB and ML leaders last night used loud speakers to campaign in the city.
Acting Mayor and senior BNP leader Moniruzzaman Moni was allotted 'pineapple' symbol while Taibur Rahman, a shrimp exporter, was assigned 'fish' symbol. Both Moni and Taibur yesterday started their door-to-door campaigning.
Advocate Enayet Ali, the former chairman of the then Khulna Municipality and a leader of AL's Khulna unit, was allotted 'rickshaw' symbol. He will begin his campaigning formally after holding a press conference at 11:30am today.
Symbols for candidates running for councillor posts in 31 wards and 10 reserved seats were also allotted yesterday.
RAJSHAHI
City AL General Secretary AHM Khairuzzaman Liton was allotted 'lock' symbol while city AL president Masudul Haque Dulu received 'rickshaw' symbol.
Acting Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor and BNP leader Rezaunnabi Dudu received 'cup' symbol, former district BNP general secretary advocate Enamul Haque received 'wall clock' symbol and city Jubo Dal president Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul received 'tiger' symbol.
Raihanur Rahman, city convener of Progressive Democratic Party, received 'pineapple' symbol, city Jatiya Party president Durul Huda received 'pen with ink pot', Jubo League leader Nasir Uddin Ahmed received 'chair' and district convener of Bikalpodhara Bangladesh Aktaruzzman Bablu received 'television'.
Bangladesh Samajtrantrik Dal district convener Ruhul Kuddus Tunu received 'umbrella', Amra Rajshahibashi convener Abdul Matin Khan received 'wheel', independent candidate Farman Ali received 'swan', Abdul Khalek received 'ship', Abul Kalam Azad received 'table' and Siddikur Rahman received 'fish' as their election symbols.
Nagorik Committee candidate Liton and Jubo Dal leader Bulbul started their election campaign in Rajshahi city after receiving their symbols.
Liton's campaigners brought out a rickshaw procession in the city while making announcements over loudspeakers, reports our RU correspondent.
BARISAL
AL-led 14-party combine formally started campaign for its mayoral candidate Shawkat Hossain Hiron, the convener of Barisal City Awami League, through holding a public rally at Alakanda, reported our Barisal correspondent.
Other mayoral candidates also began election campaign after getting the polls symbols yesterday. They also expressed satisfaction for getting the chance to conduct election campaign formally.
Hiron got television as election symbol while BNP leader Ebadul Haque Chan got ship, expelled BNP leader and former mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal got wall clock, Nagorik Parishad President Enayet Pir Khan got fish and Progressive Democratic Party leader Sharfuddin Ahmed Santu got umbrella.
SYLHET
Many candidates could not start their campaign in Sylhet due to inclement weather, reported our staff correspondent from Sylhet.
However, some mayoral and councillor candidates began their door-to-door campaign in some areas.
A committee titled 'Nagorik Parishad' was formed to conduct election campaign for incumbent mayor and 14-party alliance candidate Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran.
Former poura chairman and BNP leader AFM Kamal started his campaign through holding a meeting in the city's Shikhghat last night.
Meanwhile, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh leader MA Mukit Khan also started his election campaign.
Kamran got pineapple as election symbol while MA Haque got fish, Kamal got TV, Mukit got umbrella, Babrul Hossain Babul got rickshaw, PDP leader Quazi Kamal got chair, Jatiya Party (JP) leader Abdus Samad Nazrul got lock, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM) leader Syed Muhibur Rahman got wheel, JP leader Kunu Miah got bus, BKM leader Sirajul Islam Siraj got inkpot, Bangladesh Liberal Party leader Kutub Uddin Ahmed got tea cup, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Syed Habibur Rahman Hiron got spectacles, PDP leader Syed Ali Afsar got table, independent candidates Salah Uddin Rimon got clock, and Basher Uddin Ahmed got duck.