Sadiq’s men on campaign trail, but only barely

Awami League central leaders' bid to get the current Barishal mayor's men to join the campaign trail of the party's mayor nominee Abul Khair Abdullah is not delivering the desired outcome.

Amid pressure from party high-ups, supporters of Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah began a half-hearted and disunited campaign for Abul Khair, who is Sadiq's uncle,on Tuesday, the fifth day of electioneering.

The city goes to polls on June 12.

The way Sadiq's followers have been acting at the campaign for Khair has been is uninspiring and disjointed. They even printed and distributed their own leaflets just for show, said sources in both factions.

Locals and party insiders said Sadiq's followers campaigned for just about an hour yesterday. On Tuesday, they distributed leaflets that were different from the ones from Khair's camp. 

On Tuesday and yesterday, Sadiq's followers campaigned for the sake of campaigning, they said.

Khair's loyalists alleged that the faction loyal to Sadiq was electioneering because their arms have been twisted.

Afzalaul Karim, chief polling agent of Khair, told The Daily Star, "It took around a month and a half to hold the extended meeting [for making the factions work together]. Why? Thanks to them [supporters of Sadiq] for finally joining the campaign. They only distributed leaflets in Sadar Road area but they had no activity in the wards."

During a views-exchange meeting with Jubo League leaders on Tuesday, Khair said, "Forty days have passed but still I have not gotten cooperation from many … got resistance from many. Ignoring the instructions of our leader Sheikh Hasina would be suicidal [for them]."

Faizul Haque Faiz, the Sadiq-led faction's point person for Khair's campaign, said they campaigned in areas close to their offices and could not go far due to the hot and humid weather.

Echoing Faiz, Sadiq's ally Talukdar Mohammad Yunus, general secretary of Barishal district AL, said, "We have already given leaflets for distribution in the wards."

According to locals, banners asking for votes for "boat", the AL's electoral symbol, could not be seen in wards that have pro-Sadiq councillors.

Kohinur Begum, a councillor aspirant for wards 7, 8, and 9 reserved for women, even alleged that Sadiq loyalists wearing badges of the "boat" were seeking votes for the Islami Andolon Bangladesh mayor nominee.

During a visit to wards 2, 7, 8, and 17, activists belonging to the Sadiq-led faction were hardly seen campaigning.

Sources in Khair's camp told this newspaper that they do not expect Sadiq's followers to campaign wholeheartedly and they have already taken up an alternative campaign strategy.

"We have formed ward-based monitoring committees to see if the activists are carrying out their responsibilities properly," said Afzalul.

Leaders and workers of Barishal AL fear disaster on election day as the two factions are not working together.

Ever since the AL on April 15 picked Khair, Mayor Sadiq has been trying to keep his firm grip on Barishal as Khair has been gaining strength, locals and AL insiders said.

This has led to tension and confrontation. There was an attack on Khair's followers on the night of May 14 and Sadiq's men were arrested the next day.

Neither Khair nor Sadiq attended Friday's extended meeting held to get their factions to work together.