All eyes on Rangpur

All eyes are on Rangpur today as Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party are set to fight the battle of ballots to win the mayoral race.

The Rangpur city polls have attracted people's attention as the three major political parties are trying to ensure win for their mayoral candidates.

Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, Kawsar Zaman Babla and Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa have been contesting the polls from the AL, BNP and Jatiya Party respectively. Peaceful electioneering by them raised hopes among local people for a good election.

Tight security measures have been put in place by the administration to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the elections. The mayoral polls are being held on partisan line.

“We have completed all the preparations for holding the polls in Rangpur. Our observation is that the situation is in our favour till now. A free, fair and acceptable election will be held,” Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda told journalists in the capital's Nirbachan Bhaban yesterday.

A total of 393,994 voters are expected to exercise their franchise to elect the city mayor and councillors in 33 wards.

Many voters said the mayoral election will be a friendly one as they considered Jhantu and Mostafiz to be the frontrunners to win it.

Jhantu had won the first mayoral polls in Rangpur in 2012, defeating his nearest rival Mostafa by 30,000 votes. The election was non-partisan.

Although the Jatiya Party mayoral nominee is in a strong position, only 15 pro-JP candidates are running councillor polls. Besides, only 18-pro BNP ward councillor hopefuls are contesting the elections.

According to experts, Rangpur city polls have become a prestige issue for the three major political parties ahead of the 11th parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held late next year.

“It's not an election of compromise, but a friendly election between Awami League and Jatiya Party,” said Aftab Hossain, secretary of the Rangpur chapter of Sujan, a civil society platform.

State Minister for LGRD Mashiur Rahman Ranga, also a Jatiya Party lawmaker from Rangpur, said: “The election will be free and fair. I think the government is not putting any pressure on the local administration considering the future of the Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance.”

“If the AL candidate is defeated, it will not be considered as the party's defeat. Rather, it will be considered as a defeat of Jhantu as he was involved in corruption and misbehaved with people,” he told The Daily Star.

AL Presidium Member Abdur Razzak said holding a fair election is necessary for all, regardless of the results.

About the public perception on a probable friendly election, he said it was a “baseless perception”. He claimed that AL leaders were trying their best to ensure victory for the party's mayor candidate.

All the candidates passed a busy day, finalising their strategies for the polling day. The candidates had meetings with their leaders and activists.

Talking to this newspaper, Jhantu said, “Our victory is certain. People are not going to make any mistake like they did before. People will cast their votes for development and boat [electoral symbol of Awami League] will win.”

Mostafa said a “silent revolution” would take place in Rangpur as it is a stronghold of Jatiya Party.

BNP nominee Babla expressed fear that the election might not be free and fair. He said if the election is held in a free and fair atmosphere, he would win it.

Voting will start at 8:00am today and continue till 4:00pm at 193 polling centres without any break. All the electoral materials have already been sent to the polling centres. 

A total of 283 candidates are contesting the city polls. Of them, seven are contesting for the mayoral post and 65 for 11 reserved (women) councillor posts and 211 for 33 general councillor posts.

A total of 3, 93,994 voters are expected to cast their ballots. Of them, 1,96,356 are male and 1,97,638 are female.

Subhash Chandra Sarkar, returning officer of the city polls, said additional security measures have been taken at 108 very important polling centres.

“Four-tier security measures have been put in place. Thirty-three executive and 11 judicial magistrates will be deployed,” he told journalists.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party yesterday called upon the chief election commissioner to take measure so that the AL candidate can't influence voters in his favour.

A six-member JP delegation, led by opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury, made the request to CEC KM Nurul Huda at a meeting at the Election Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon.

Talking to Then Daily Star, JP presidium member Faysal Chisti said they urged the CEC to ensure that all voters can go to polling centres and cast their votes freely without any fear.

“The CEC said he has already instructed the field level polls officials to carry out their duties neutrally and ensure a level playing field for all candidates for holding a free, fair and credible election,” added Faysal.