RCC Election: Candidates enter last day to convince voters

Candidates of the Rangpur City Corporation election continued hectic electioneering on Monday, the penultimate day of campaigning.

The contesting mayoral, councillor and women reserved seat councillors candidates and their workers are now visiting constituents at the last moment, assuring them to make the city clean and developed, and free from mosquitos, traffic jams and various other impediments.

The central leaders of major political parties Awami League and BNP, plus the regionally strong Jatiyo Party took part in the campaign on Monday, seeking votes in favour of their candidates.

Jatiyo Party chairman H. M. Ershad  arrived in Rangpur on a five day visit on Monday, including casting vote in the City corporation election scheduled for December 21.  

Talking  to the reporters at his residence polli Nibash, he said that his party has given maximum importance in the Rangpur City corporation election as the Rangpur is fort of Jatiyo Party and victory of JP candidate in the election would influence the next national election.  He is hopeful  about victory of his candidate in the polls.

Awami  League's central organising secretary Ahamed Hossain held a  press conference at the party office at Betpotti on Monday afternoon, where he raised the various development activities made by the present Government under Sheikh Hasina and called upon the city dwellers to cast their votes for the boat symbol, for continuation of development and peace.

He said the election commission is totally independent and the Awami League Government never interferes in election commission’s activities.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while addressing roadside meetings at C. O. Bazar, Medical more, Kachari Bazar, Paira Chattor on Monday brought allegations of favouritism against the election commission.

Terming the Awami League as ‘the party of thieves’, he called upon the leaders and activists to guard the polling centres.

Fakhrul asked the city dwellers to cast their votes next to the BNP’s sheaf of paddy symbol on the ballot.  He expressed doubts whether the election of the Rangpur city corporation would ultimately be a free and fair one.

Earlier the central leaders of Awami League, BNP and JP campaigned for their party candidates and sought votes in their favour.

A total of seven candidates are in the race of mayor, 211 candidates in the ward councillors and 65 women candidates for reserved councillors.

A total of 33 executive magistrate are conducting drive and fined the candidates who breached the election code of conduct through mobile courts to maintain law and order.

For the election 3,88,421 voters - 1,96,659 males and 1,91,762 female - have been enrolled to cast their votes to elect a mayor, 33 ward councillors and 11 councillors to the reserved seats of women.

An Electronic voting machine will be used in just one centre - the Begum Rokeya Government College polling center at ward 25.

The voting will take place at 193 polling centers -of them 128 are said to be vulnerable, or at risk of seeing violence, across the Rangpur city on December 21.

The first election of the Rangpur city was held in December 2012, when Awami League backed candidate Sharfuddin Ahamed Jhantu was elected mayor of the city.

Source: unb