Election fever grips 4 city corps, 14 municipalities
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Following the distribution of symbols to the candidates today election fever gripped the four city corporation and nine pourasabha areas centering the mayor and councillor elections to be held on August 4, reports BSS.
The poll campaign started by the contestants organising rallies and moving to houses of voters seeking their support making promises to deliver good services.
In many places, drenching in rains, the contestants held rallies using microphones taking advantage of the relaxation of emergency rules.
"The response is beyond imagination and we are very happy," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda told the news agency while commenting on the progress and preparations for the upcoming mayor and councillor elections in four cities and nine pourasabhas.
He said whatever might be the party line, all the political parties were joining the poll although one party spoke of boycotting. The augury of the campaign was encouraging and until now there were no reports of violation of the code of conduct for the election, he added.
Dr Huda said the EC has taken all precautionary measures to ensure the law and order during the election process so that the voters are not frightened by muscle power and the black money is not used by the candidates like in the past.
Describing the mayoral election as a 'test case', the CEC expressed the hope that if everything goes well and the poll is held smoothly then the arrangements for the next Jatiya Sangsad election will be much better.
Altogether 46 candidates were contesting for the mayoral post in the four city corporations while 59 were running for the same post in the nine pourasabhas. Besides, 752 candidates were vying for the position of general ward councillors and 194 others for the post of reserved women ward councillors in the four city corporations.
In the nine pourasabhas, 120 candidates were contesting for the post of reserved women ward councillors and 429 for the position of general ward councillors.
Meanwhile, reports from Barisal said soon after receiving their respective election symbols the mayoral candidates launched open campaign right from the day one visiting the doorsteps of the voters.
Among these candidates, Advocate Shawkat Hossain Hiron, former mayor and expelled BNP leader Ahsan Habib Kamal, BNP leader and chamber president Ebaidul Huq Chand and Nagarik Parishad president Advocate Enayet Pir Khan began their formal campaign Monday. They launched their campaign from different parts of Barisal city.
Many candidates are happy because of ban on colourful posters and writing on the wall. This they said will reduce their election expenditure. However, a few councillor candidates said this time they will have to put up extra labour.
Another report from Rajshahi said mayoral candidates including Awami League led 14-alliance nominated AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, rebel Awami League candidate Masudul Haque Dulu, four BNP leaders Rejaun Nabi Dudu, Enamul Haque, Musaddeque Hossain Bulbul and Siddiqur Rahman, Jatiya Party leader Durul Huda, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh nominee Akhtaruzzaman Bablu, PDP leader Advocate Raihanurv Rahman Raihan and BSD nominee Ruhul Quddus Tunu began their open campaign.
Many of the mayoral and councillor candidates were seen busy meeting people braving the monsoon rains.
Mayoral candidate Masudul Haque Dulu arranged a discussion titled "Corruption, terrorism, black money and politicisation- free mayor election" at the Rajshahi city's Uttara Community Center.
Action on Disability and Development (ADD) held a press conference in Rajshahi with a call to ensure a congenial atmosphere so that the disabled persons could cast their votes smoothly.
In Sylhet, soon after the allocations of symbols the supporters of mayoral candidates started raising slogans in favour of their respective candidates in various places in the city.
Formal launching of election campaign by the mayoral and councillor candidates was also reported from Khulna.
The poll campaign started by the contestants organising rallies and moving to houses of voters seeking their support making promises to deliver good services.
In many places, drenching in rains, the contestants held rallies using microphones taking advantage of the relaxation of emergency rules.
"The response is beyond imagination and we are very happy," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda told the news agency while commenting on the progress and preparations for the upcoming mayor and councillor elections in four cities and nine pourasabhas.
He said whatever might be the party line, all the political parties were joining the poll although one party spoke of boycotting. The augury of the campaign was encouraging and until now there were no reports of violation of the code of conduct for the election, he added.
Dr Huda said the EC has taken all precautionary measures to ensure the law and order during the election process so that the voters are not frightened by muscle power and the black money is not used by the candidates like in the past.
Describing the mayoral election as a 'test case', the CEC expressed the hope that if everything goes well and the poll is held smoothly then the arrangements for the next Jatiya Sangsad election will be much better.
Altogether 46 candidates were contesting for the mayoral post in the four city corporations while 59 were running for the same post in the nine pourasabhas. Besides, 752 candidates were vying for the position of general ward councillors and 194 others for the post of reserved women ward councillors in the four city corporations.
In the nine pourasabhas, 120 candidates were contesting for the post of reserved women ward councillors and 429 for the position of general ward councillors.
Meanwhile, reports from Barisal said soon after receiving their respective election symbols the mayoral candidates launched open campaign right from the day one visiting the doorsteps of the voters.
Among these candidates, Advocate Shawkat Hossain Hiron, former mayor and expelled BNP leader Ahsan Habib Kamal, BNP leader and chamber president Ebaidul Huq Chand and Nagarik Parishad president Advocate Enayet Pir Khan began their formal campaign Monday. They launched their campaign from different parts of Barisal city.
Many candidates are happy because of ban on colourful posters and writing on the wall. This they said will reduce their election expenditure. However, a few councillor candidates said this time they will have to put up extra labour.
Another report from Rajshahi said mayoral candidates including Awami League led 14-alliance nominated AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, rebel Awami League candidate Masudul Haque Dulu, four BNP leaders Rejaun Nabi Dudu, Enamul Haque, Musaddeque Hossain Bulbul and Siddiqur Rahman, Jatiya Party leader Durul Huda, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh nominee Akhtaruzzaman Bablu, PDP leader Advocate Raihanurv Rahman Raihan and BSD nominee Ruhul Quddus Tunu began their open campaign.
Many of the mayoral and councillor candidates were seen busy meeting people braving the monsoon rains.
Mayoral candidate Masudul Haque Dulu arranged a discussion titled "Corruption, terrorism, black money and politicisation- free mayor election" at the Rajshahi city's Uttara Community Center.
Action on Disability and Development (ADD) held a press conference in Rajshahi with a call to ensure a congenial atmosphere so that the disabled persons could cast their votes smoothly.
In Sylhet, soon after the allocations of symbols the supporters of mayoral candidates started raising slogans in favour of their respective candidates in various places in the city.
Formal launching of election campaign by the mayoral and councillor candidates was also reported from Khulna.