Calm comes down on poll campaigns

Calm comes down on poll campaigns, sometimes having turned vituperative, as the countdown begins for voting Thursday in post-uprising referendum and general election.
The Election Commission has banned electioneering rallies and publicity from 7:00am Tuesday (today) in the run-up to the polls, being held against the backdrop of political upheavals that ousted a major party from power and from the electoral race.
Candidates passed busy time running campaigns across the country overnight to win voters' heart at the last hour as electoral campaign was to conclude this (Tuesday) morning.
As per schedule announced by the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC), campaign period began on January 22 and continued until 7.30 today-48 hours before the people begin to exercise their franchise.
If any candidates are found breaching the electoral code of conduct by running further campaigns beyond the stipulated time, they will have to face punishment
Meanwhile, heavyweight candidates joined rallies and conferences in different parts of the capital city to make the best use of the penultimate day.
Supporters of BNP Candidate Mirza Abbas brought out two processions in Shantinagar area of Dhaka-8 constituency, with separate male and female participants, from the BNP office at the fag-end of the election campaign. They also visited home to home in their areas and distributed the voter ID in favour of their candidate.
Supporters of other candidates from different constituencies were also seen in Ramna Park early in the morning distributing leaflets to joggers. An FE scribe found supporters distributing leaflets of Taslima Akter, a female candidate of Gono Sanghati Andolon from Dhaka 12. Though Ramna Park was not Taslima's constituency in the 13th national election, supporters said the campaign could be carried out from all corners, and people may inspire others in favour of their candidate.
The candidates and their supporters installed campaign booths in different parts of the constituency. They were also seen visiting home and business areas, footpaths and other local gatherings talking to people and asking to go to vote centres.
As the election commission barred parties from attaching posters, so many banners were seen hanging in different parts of the constituencies, particularly in front of shopping malls and other places.
Campaigners also gave voters check-list and booth details in those campaign booths. On a visit to some of the areas people were seen coming, specially women and elderly.
Dhaka-17 is a heavyweight constituency in this election. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is contesting the polls from the constituency. Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman is contesting from Jamaat against him.
Tarique Rahman addressed a campaign rally in the city's Banani neighbourhood on Monday. City- dwellers apart from his supporters and party-men of the constituency joined the campaign.
Partymen and campaigners also conducted campaigns on foot to home and people on the streets for Tarique Rahman in the upscale Gulshan area and nearby slums. There are banners hanging on roadsides asking for votes.
His contestant, Dr Khaliduzzaman, is no different. He along with his wife and women and young supporters ran last-hours campaigns, including "mehedi utshob", in Gulshan 2. His doctor colleagues also joined election processions and campaigns on Monday seeking votes and support.
In Dhaka-11, campaigns of both the main competitors-BNP candidate MA Qayyum and Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party coalition-backed NCP candidate Nahid Islam-were seen seeking votes and support from the voters.
The area covers Badda of Dhaka North City Corporation, specifically wards 21, 22, and 23. Badda, Beraid, Vatara, and Satarkul, Vatara.
Talking to the FE, Mannan Mahmud, a campaigner of BNP's MA Qayyum at the city's Uttor Badda campaign booth near Hossain Market, said they were all set to see a great election day after three national elections as those failed to become a real test of democracy.
"We are seeing great enthusiasm among the voters. Especially the voters who never voted in the last 17 years and the young voters are so enthusiastic. This time, due to the situation that changed after the July uprising, we didn't have any unwanted conditions or violence over running campaign," he added.
Mahmud, a member of the local development, said, "This is a great opportunity to restore democracy we shouldn't miss."
Presence of women campaigners has also been seen. Women campaigners for Nahid Islam were also seen visiting residential areas and businesses.
"We are visiting homes and asking for their support and vote for Nahid. We are getting positive responses from both men and women but the women and youth response we got pleasing," said Arzina Begum. People of the group are counting time to see the transition of democracy on February 12, she added.
A Supreme Court chamber judge Monday referred to a full bench the leave-to-appeal petition filed by NCP candidate Nahid Islam for a stay on the Election Commission's decision to allow the BNP nominee to contest in the Dhaka-11 constituency.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman joined rally on the day for his own election campaign in Dhaka-15 constituency consisting of Mirpur and Kafrul areas.
He said if his party wins the national elections, they will establish justice (Insaf) and egalitarian society for the welfare of the country's people.