Bangladesh News

The main fight in tomorrow’s city corporation mayoral election in Khulna will be between Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Moniruzzaman Moni although there are four other candidates contesting the poll.

Jatiya Party and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh have extended support to Khaleque but sources said his votes might get divided between two other candidates–Awami League (AL) leader advocate Enayet Ali and Communist Party leader advocate Firoze Ahmed.

Local Jamaat-e-Islami and rival BNP faction have meanwhile extended their full support to BNP leader and acting mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Moni, which has put him in an advantageous position.

Khulna turned into a city of processions and rallies yesterday as candidates contesting for the mayoral post and councillorship were busy with last moment door-to-door campaign from early in the morning. The campaign time officially ended at zero hours last night.

Sources said law enforcers will start raiding different areas in the city to arrest criminals so that there is no trouble during tomorrow’s polls.

With almost the same pledges like carrying out development activities and curbing corruption and criminal activities, the six mayor aspirants held series of rallies at different parts of the city. The councillor candidates were busy going door-to-door to seek votes.

Visiting the slums and industrial areas, candidates committed to fulfil their pledges, if elected, and requested the voters to cast their votes for them.

A few workers of the People’s Jute Mills in Khalishpur, however, told The Daily Star that they do not want to be cheated again.

In the afternoon, Khaleque brought out a huge procession comprising around 20,000 people from Rupsha Ghat area and paraded the major city roads up to Hadis Park.

Moni led another huge procession at Daulatpur and Khalishpur where Jamaat men also joined him.

In the morning, AL Presidium member Abdur Razzak arrived in Khulna and conducted a two-hour campaign for Khaleque, also president of Khulna city AL. During the campaign Razzak said if the government passes the “test” of city corporation polls, only then the national election would be held in the country.

He alleged that the BNP has been playing double roles regarding the city polls claiming that it has boycotted the election while taking part in it.

Security measurers were beefed up in the city with law enforcers patrolling round the clock.

The local Election Commission office was also busy making last time preparations.