A ‘free ride’ to woo voters

While candidates come up with a lot of strategies to sway voters in their favour, the Awami League candidate of Dinajpur-6 has allegedly gone for a rather unusual approach -- offering free entry to an amusement park.

Swapnopuri, the largest private amusement park in Dinajpur's Nawabgabj upazila, is now offering free entry to the voters in Dinajpur-6 constituency, which comprises Nawabganj, Birampur, Hakimpur, and Ghoraghat upazilas.

Shibli Sadeeq, an incumbent lawmaker, is contesting the polls from this constituency with the "boat" symbol.

He is also the managing director of the park while being a 50-percent shareholder.

The usual per-person entry fee in that park is Tk 100, according to locals. But now it costs nothing, allegedly to influence the constituency's voters, which has also triggered the question of a probable violation of the electoral code of conduct.

The free entry has been effective since December 25 and will continue till January 4, said locals. The visitors will have to carry a copy of their national ID card and provide their information.

They said as the park is now free for all, a large number of people from the four upazilas are visiting it every day. The rides in the park are also free of charge.

Talking with The Daily Star, several candidates from Dinajpur-6 said Shibli is using his business to influence the voters, which is a violation of the electoral code of conduct.

Shahnewaz Firoz, an independent candidate for Dinajpur-6, demanded the returning officer look into the matter.

Azizul Haque Chowdhury, a former lawmaker and an AL independent candidate from this constituency, alleged that Shibli violated the election code of conduct by offering free entry to the park in a bid to influence the voters of this constituency, where people are mostly financially insolvent.

Azizul also alleged that Shibli's activists are regularly tearing down his campaign posters in the four upazilas. "One of my activists was also attacked by Shibli's men," he said.

"I would have boycotted the election if I were not from Awami League myself," he said.

The Daily Star tried to reach Shibli for his comment, but he did not respond.

Mizanur Rahman, manager of Swapnopuri, confirmed to The Daily Star that the management offered free entry to people from the four upazilas.

However, he said the offer was for three days only, from December 25 to 27, and it was closed yesterday.

But locals claimed it was still continuing.

Contacted, Quamrul Islam, district election officer in Dinajpur, said they will take action following an investigation.