Dhaka mayoral races see new campaign methods

From cleaning the street with a broomstick to visiting the rival's home, leading mayoral aspirants in Dhaka city are coming up with innovative ideas of campaigning every day to woo voters.

The new approaches get going when the streets, lanes and alleys remain all abuzz with the loudspeakers seeking votes for both mayor and councillor candidates at every part of the capital.

In Gulshan Shooting Club area, Awami League favourite in the north Annisul Huq was seen sweeping the street yesterday with a broomstick as a token of his commitment to make the city clean.

"It is not possible for a mayor alone to keep Dhaka city clean. For that, a concerted effort is needed. If we all try together, we can have a clean Dhaka," he told reporters.

Celebrities including Tarana Halim, ATM Shamsuzzaman, Ramendu Mazumdar, Dr Inamul Huq, Sharmilee Ahmed, Tamalika Karmakar, and Murad Parvez participated in the programme and sought votes for Annisul.

Besides, Sahasra Nagorik Committee, a citizens' platform, urged all to vote for Annisul and Sayeed Khokan, the AL-backed mayoral hopeful in Dhaka south.

The Committee will start campaigning for the two AL favourites today, announced its Convener Syed Shamsul Haque through a press conference yesterday.

The Committee also dismissed BNP's demand for deployment of army, saying there would be no need of it because there had been no fear, so far, about holding the elections peacefully.

Jatiya Party-backed Dhaka north mayoral candidate Bahauddin Ahmed Bablu campaigned in Uttara Sector 1 and 10, while Tabith visited Gabtoli and some other areas.

Talking to reporters, Tabith alleged that BNP-backed councillor candidates were facing troubles in conducting campaigns.

Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh-blessed candidate in Dhaka north Mahi B Chowdhury campaigned in Uttara Sector 3, 12 and 13.

In Dhaka south, Sayeed Khokon started off from Jhauchar Baro Masjid at Hazaribagh and also visited several other wards.

Talking to reporters, Khokon said he would visit his rival Mirza Abbas' residence to seek votes. On Friday Afroza Abbas, wife of the BNP-backed candidate, visited Khokon's and sought his vote for Abbas.

Independent lawmaker Haji Selim, who had initially applied for candidacy for the mayoral post in Dhaka south, joined the campaign of Khokon yesterday.

Afroza Abbas started electioneering from Gopibagh in the morning before visiting Tikatuli, Swamibagh, Wari, Dayaganj, Sutrapur, Gendaria, Faridabad and Narinda, distributing leaflets.