Women voters in Chittagong city, about half the total voters, are displeased with electoral manifestos of both the Awami League- and BNP-backed mayoral candidates as those do not address major problems faced by females.

According to the city's female residents, major problems they face include harassment and stalking, and the absence of separate, clean public toilets.

However, the mayoral candidates have ignored these issues in their campaigns, feel the women voters.

Out of the total 18,13,449 voters in Chittagong City Corporation polls, 8,76,396 voters are females which is 48.32 percent.     

BNP-backed candidate M Manjur Alam in his manifesto promised to set up separate swimming pools for women. He also mentioned setting up two buses for women and children and a hostel for working women.

Meanwhile, his rival AL-backed candidate AJM Nasir Uddin pledged separate bus services for women but did not mention the number of buses. He also promised to allocate plots or flats for working women.

Nasir did, however, mention setting up public toilets for women but did not mention the number or places in which they would be set up. Manjur has no such plans.    

Ismat Nishu, a private university student, said stalking and sexual harassment are great concerns for all females and the mayoral candidates should have addressed it.

"Girls feel insecure on the streets because of harassment," she said.  

Sangeeta Kar, a schoolteacher, said there is a serious lack of hygienic washrooms at public places.

Writer Ferdous Ara Alim said the mayoral candidates should have emphasised turning the city into a woman-friendly one but they did not.