DHAKA, Dec 27, 2018 (BSS) – Electioneering across Bangladesh reached its
peak today as the campaign for the December 30 polls is set to end tomorrow
in line with the electoral rules as 1,848 candidates are contesting in 299
out of 300 parliamentary constituencies.
Tens of thousands of followers and supporters of candidates of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Awami League-led grand alliance and Jatiya
Oikya Front led by Dr Kamal Hossain with BNP being its key ally paraded
streets throughout the country.
Witnesses and observers said both sides were highlighting their pledges
to woo the 10,41,90,480 voters nationwide amid a flurry of late campaign
appearances on the last day campaign while they launched new salvoes in their
war of words ahead of the polling as the electioneering were underway.
According to the countrywide BSS correspondents the campaign for the
grand alliance candidates appeared more tangible compared to their opponents.
They said main opposition BNP was apparently exposed to a state of
wilderness in the absence of their two top leaders, jailed ex-premier Khaleda
Zia and her son and “fugitive” party chief Tarique Rahman.
Begum Zia is serving a five-year prison term on graft charges while
Tarique is staying in London visibly to evade his life imprisonment as he was
convicted of masterminding the 2004 grenade attack.
The campaign ends at 8 in the morning tomorrow in line with the main
election law, Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972 that prohibits
holding of any procession, meeting, rally and showdown 48 hours ahead of the
voting starts and subsequent 48 hours after the voting ends.
BSS correspondents from different districts reported a nearly identical
scene that the candidates were seen making door-to-door visits, bringing out
processions, holding meetings and distributing leaflets to woo voters at the
last moment of the election campaign.
Their posters were seen pasted on walls and trees and hanging with string
almost everywhere.
The candidates particularly from the major political parties in six
constituencies in Rajshahi were seen meeting voters irrespective of age, sex
and creed and cast with posters and leaflets to drum up support for them from
early morning to mid night every day.
Flanked by a large number of leaders and workers, the contestants are
also seen meeting voters and different professional bodies seeking their
support throughout the day braving fog as well as cold wave. All the
electioneering areas got a new look with numerous posters, banners and
festoons.
A total of 24 candidates are vying for all the six constituencies in the
district for the upcoming parliamentary election.
Many of the voters said main competition is likely to be taken place
between the candidates of Bangladesh Awami League and BNP in five of the
constituencies.
Every nook and corner of the 16 constituencies of Chattogram district and
city were seen pulsating with incessant campaign as the candidates and voters
of the constituencies braving cold wave, were found busy almost day and night
for electioneering at the last moment of the election campaign.
The candidates were seen electioneering by carrying out mass contacts,
election showdowns, courtyard meetings, distribution of leaflets, loud
speakers even with satirical regional dialects by distinguished vocalists
and galaxy of cine stars.
The party workers were drawing the attentions of the voters in the
locality amid different tactics. Besides, noted celebrities were witnessed
rendering different patriotic songs and newly composed election slogans and
songs throughout the districts.
A total of 148 candidates from different political parties and alliances
will contest in 16 constituencies in Chattogram.
The electioneering has also reached its peak in all 33 constituencies of
eights districts in Rangpur division as contesting candidates and their
supporters were conducting campaigns in full swing in both urban and rural
areas in their bid to woo the voters in favour of them.
The contestants of different political parties and alliances, including
of AL-led grand alliance and Dr Kamal Hossain led Jatiya Oikya Front, and
independent candidates and their supporters are mostly making door to door
visits and talking to the voters all the day.
After the poll campaign of Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina
in Rangpur and Dinajpur districts on Sunday, AL candidates got an
advantageous position as it added a special dimension to the whole
electioneering process in Rangpur division.
The contesting AL candidates and their workers are narrating massive
developments in the last ten years while seeking votes putting them
comparatively ahead compared to the BNP candidates who are promising to
restore ‘democracy’ and ‘rights’ of the people if elected.
More than 1800 people are contesting the 11th parliamentary elections
while a total of 1.23 crore new voters will exercise their franchise at
206,477 polling booths of the 40,183 voting centers in 299 constituencies
across the country on December 30.
Meanwhile the Election Commission (EC) has already sent the ballot papers
and stuffs, including stamp pad, official seal, marking seal, to every
district.
The EVMs will be used in six constituencies in the elections. The
constituencies are- Dhaka-6 and 13, Chattogram-9, Rangpur-3, Khulna-2 and
Satkhira-2.
As per the schedule, the last date of submission of nomination papers was
November 28, scrutiny of the nomination papers was held on December 2 and the
last date of withdrawal of nomination paper was December 9.