The officer-in-charge of Kolaroa Police Station in Satkhira allegedly sought vote for Awami League's electoral symbol “Boat,” violating the electoral code of conduct.

“I, on behalf of the administration, want to say you one thing that you will cast your vote for the pro-liberation forces, for the 'boat' symbol,” the OC Maruf Ahmed said while speaking at a programme on Thursday.

A video clip of his speech went viral on social media where many people expressed their shock and dismay over the issue.

Narrating the incident, Habibul Islam Habib, a former BNP lawmaker and the Oikyafront candidate in Satkhira-1 constituency, submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission and demanded his immediate withdrawal.

“Some ruling party men, led by OC Maruf, have been carrying out violent attacks on the residents of BNP's leaders and activists for the last couple of days,” Habib told The Daily Star, adding that he had been staying outside of his constituency for the last few days due to security concerns.

“The minimum election atmosphere is even absent in Satkhira-1 constituency,” he said, adding that the local returning officer did not take any steps in this regard despite repeated appeals. 

OC Maruf, however, denied the allegation.

He told The Daily Star that he attended the programme for ensuring security and gave a welcome speech that was manipulated later by incorporating those words.

The video clip shows that Maruf asking all the audience to vote the AL-led government to power again for the continuation of the ongoing development.

 Merina Akter, assistant superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) in Satkhira said it was not appropriate for him to speak about politics.

District returning officer SM Mostafa Kamal said they already had informed the district superintendent of police to take steps against the police officer in question.

The BNP has virtually been sidelined in its Lakshmipur stronghold while its rival Awami League's campaigning has been going on in full swing.

Posters and campaigning by the Jatiya Oikyafront, the alliance of which the BNP is a component, can hardly be seen anywhere in the four constituencies of the district.

During a recent visit, The Daily Star spoke to 40 voters in Lakshmipur-3 and Lakshmipur-1 and talked to sources in the other two.

“The scenario is quite unusual. An eerie calm is prevailing. We fear violence in the days ahead,” said 45-year old Mohammad Harun, a rickshaw puller of Sadar upazila under Lakshmipur-3.

“The district is a base of the BNP, but the party is cornered,” said another local at a tea stall.

Their fears seem logical as BNP leaders have said they would take to the street on polls day to stop “vote rigging”.

Since 1991, the BNP bagged all the seats in the district, except once (Lakshmipur-4 in 1996). The BNP did not take part in the 2014 polls.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Chief ASM Abdur Rab, who defeated the BNP candidate in 1996, is running this year as a candidate of the Jatiya Oikyafront.

Rezaul Karim Liton, general secretary of the district Jubo Dal, alleged that voters were being intimidated and that they were not being allowed to hang posters.

“Whenever our activists try to campaign, our loud speakers are taken away by force. All these are spreading a sense of panic among voters,” he said.

“We will guard the polling centre, whatever the situation becomes.”

On Monday, Abu Taher, former general secretary of AL district unit and also the mayor of Lakshmipur municipality, threatened voters of dire consequence if they did not vote for “boat”.

"Cast your votes properly. I will be at the chairman post for two and a half more years. The roads will be dug up at night and the drains will be destroyed," Taher said at an election rally in the area in front of 200-250 people.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal is running with the AL ticket against BNP Publicity Affairs Secretary Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie in Lakshmipur-3.

This correspondent saw Annie's posters in some areas of Lakshmipur-3 but posters of Oikyafront candidate and Liberal Democratic Party leader Shahadat Hossain Selim was hardly seen in Lakshmipur-1.

Numerous posters of the boat symbol were seen on roads and in rural markets in both constituencies.

Talking to The Daily Star, some local BNP leaders in Lakshmipur-1 said they cannot stay home at night as police often carries out raids.

"Police have openly taken the side of 'boat'. They have asked several of my campaigners to leave the areas, threatening to shoot them in the leg otherwise," Oikyafront candidate Shahadat Hossain Selim told The Daily Star. 

"I have submitted six to seven complaints to the returning officer but they did not take any action," he added.

He alleged that AL men attacked his village home in Karpara area but police did not take any step to arrest the attackers.

Shafiq Mahmud Pintu, president of Ramganj upazila unit AL, said he did not hear about any incident of attack or violence in the upazila.

Contacted, Tota Mia, officer-in-charge of Ramganj Police Station under Lakshmipur-1, said the allegation against the police was baseless.

"There is a good election atmosphere here and all candidates are campaigning."

Like Khulna division from which it was carved out, Barishal has been a swing division since 2001.  

Records also show that since the 1996 polls, the first after Barishal became a division, the party that bagged the most seats there, won the national polls.

In the 1996 election, no parties had thumped supremacy there. The AL won the election nationally and had secured 11 seats out of 23 in Barishal. The BNP and the Jatiya Party had five seats each.

In 2001, the BNP-led four-party alliance had a landslide victory nationally and Barishal swung towards the alliance. The alliance grabbed 18 seats while the AL got two.

The AL with its alliance bounced back in the 2008 election and Barishal swung towards the AL giving it 18 seats out of 21 while the BNP-led alliance was able to obtain only three.

With the BNP not in the picture, AL got 16 seats in the 2014 polls.

Jatiya Party has lost ground in Barishal over the years. It bagged five seats in 1996, but failed to secure any seat in 2001. Forging alliance with the AL, the party was able to obtain two seats in 2008 and 2014.

The division was formed in 1993 with Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, and Barguna districts.

Like other parts of the country, intra-party rivalry in the AL and the BNP is prevalent in Barishal.

At least 70 AL and 50 BNP leaders are vying for party tickets in the constituencies, reduced to 21 after the electoral map was redrawn ahead of the 2008 polls. 

The aspirants are busy campaigning, lobbying, and putting up banners, festoons and posters.

Talking to The Daily Star recently, Talukder Md Yunus, AL general secretary of Barishal district, said, “Multiple candidates are competing for nomination as the Awami League is a big party. Everybody will work for the candidates who will be nomination by the party.”

Bilkis Jahan Shirin, the BNP's organising secretary in Barishal division, alleged that law enforcement agencies were obstructing her party workers from carrying out political activities.

"Yet, our party activists are preparing to contest the election. All will work as per the party's decision … whoever gets the nomination.”

In the six constituencies of Barishal district, at least 20 AL leaders and 13 BNP nomination aspirants are campaigning vigorously.

Barishal district unit AL President Abul Hasnat Abdullah, who is believed to have influence in AL units of southern region, is the heavyweight candidate in Barisal-1. 

Other constituencies in the region have potential rebel problems. In Barishal-4 for instance, a group of AL leaders held a press conference in September alleging incumbent lawmaker Pankaj Debnath of indulging corruption and harassing party men.

In Barguna, at least 10 AL candidates and five BNP leaders are in the race for party tickets in the two constituencies there.

As a consequence, a group of AL leaders and activists declared Barguna-1 lawmaker Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu persona non grata in the constituency. At least five AL leaders are campaigning and lobbying for tickets there.

Potential rebels for the AL and BNP are fewer in Bhola. Some five AL's and six BNP's leaders are seeking tickets in the four constituencies. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed may run from Bhola-1.

In Jhalakathi, five AL and six BNP leaders are active on the ground. Senior AL leader and Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu is likely to contest from Jhalakathi-2

In Pirojpur, nine AL and 10 BNP leaders are trying to get party tickets in the three constituencies. Jatiya Party (Manju) chief Anwar Hossain Manju might run from Pirojpur-2. Convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee's son Shamim Sayedee may run from Porojpur-1.

Intra-party conflict allegedly led to the killing of a Jubo League activist during a clash in Mothbaria (Pirojpur-3) constituency in July, 2016.

In Patuakhali, at least 22 AL and 11 BNP leaders are campaigning for party nominations in its four constituencies.

Currently, people's top priority is employment, followed by transport and education, finds a Brac survey ahead of the December 30 polls.

During the survey, carried out by the NGO's Advocacy for Social Change (ASC) in September, 5,378 respondents from all the districts and different socio-economic groups, genders, professions and ages were asked about election manifesto, selection of MP candidates and expectations from the next elected government.

At least 27.7 percent respondents said they were looking for a solution to the countrywide unemployment problem, while 26.3 percent want to see development in the transport infrastructure, and nearly 23.8 percent prioritised progress in the education sector.

Demand for a free and fair election came fourth on the list, as 17.17 percent respondents expected to see credible polls.

The Rohingya crisis, which has affected Bangladesh to a great extent and remains an issue of global concern, was named by 4.5 percent respondents.

The survey results have reflected people's perception, Asif Saleh, senior director of strategy, communications and empowerment at Brac, told The Daily Star yesterday.

“The new government, whoever it is, must take up massive measures to create jobs by engaging the private and non-profit sectors.”

He said there had been a jobless growth over the years, and that it was predicted that the job growth might come down in future with automation in industries.

“Therefore, we really need to think differently how to create more jobs for our huge number of youths joining the labour force every year.

“Quality education here is another top issue. We need to focus more on some foundational aspects so that students become analytical and efficient in communications. It will help them be competent in the changing jobs scenario,” he said.

He also said the transport sector, being a public priority, has been really “surprising”. This proves that the mobility of people is growing fast and that they want road safety, he added.

PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES

For new (aged 18-23), young (aged 24-35) or middle-aged voters (36-60), the priority is more or less similar with the top being employment followed by transport and education. But for old aged (60 plus) people, transport infrastructure development is the highest priority, the survey said.

The top three priority areas are same for both male and female, but the number of male who think that employment generation should be the top priority in the election manifesto is higher than that of the female.

On the other hand, education is more important for females than males (24.6pc versus 23.1pc).

Young female participants' priority choices are different from the “usual priority list”. For them, number one priority is transport (27.7pc), followed by employment and education.

At least 38.8 percent of those surveyed in the city corporation areas think employment should be the highest priority, while it was 28.9 percent for the people in rural areas. At least 28.3 percent respondents in rural areas think transport should be the top priority.

People with higher level of education prioritised employment and education, according to the survey.

For farmers and labourers, the most important issue has been found transport. But for the employed and unemployed people as well as students, the most important issue is unemployment.

For the people in Cox's Bazar, the highest priority is fair election, followed by the Rohingya crisis.

KNOWLEDGE ON MANIFESTO

More than two third or 68.6 percent respondents have heard about election manifesto and the knowledge about it is higher among the male participants compared to their female counterparts.

People in Barishal division (81.8pc) and Mymensingh division (81.6pc) know more about election manifesto whereas people from Dhaka division (59.1pc) know about it the least.

Not surprisingly, rural people heard less about election manifesto than those in urban areas. Knowledge about the manifesto is much higher among better educated people.

Though 82.8 percent respondents consider election manifesto as important documents, only one out of four respondents has ever gone through one. But the percentage is significantly low among females than males.

Forty nine percent respondents said candidates' acceptability and qualifications were the key factors that govern voting decisions. And, 30.6 percent respondents said they were influenced by electoral symbols of the parties. Only 6.9 percent respondents consider manifestos before making a voting decision.

But for nearly 53 percent females and middle-aged people (36 to 60), qualification of the candidates are more important in making voting decision, while political party is important for farmers (38.4pc) and businessmen (37.2pc).

For 69.1 percent respondents, commitment towards resolving pressing national issues govern voting decisions, while 25.1 percent respondents said promises to deal with local or regional issues matter most to them.

Interestingly, people living in rural areas, labourers and farmers are more concerned about the local problems.

The number of local observers in the December 30 election decreased significantly as the NGO Affairs Bureau has not granted the No Objection Certificate to 15 Election Working Group members until yesterday.

Leaders of the Election Working Group (EWG), an alliance of 22 local organisations that monitor election, said at least three of the 15 who did not get the NOC have already said they would not monitor the election. The other 12 would have to reduce their number of observers drastically, as they would not get foreign funds.

In that case, the number of local observers will be around 17,100 although the Election Commission had approved 25,920 local observers of 81 organisations to monitor the election on Sunday.

“The NGO Affairs Bureau has given the NOC to seven of our members until Thursday,” EWG Chairman Abdul Awal told The Daily Star.

“Democracywatch, Coast Trust and Jagarani Chakra Foundation have informed us that they will not monitor the election,” he added.

He further said that the rest have taken the decision to reduce their number of local observers due to the lack of foreign funding.

Asked about the shortage of funds, Awal said development partners were losing interest in funding election observation missions across the world.

“This can be one reason,” he said.

Their priorities for Bangladesh are also changing. Many development partners are now channeling funds for the Rohingya refugees, he added.

Awal estimated that the seven organisations that got the NOC from the NGO Affairs Bureau would deploy around 5,700 local observers.

While the remaining twelve will deploy around 700 local observers even though they got the EC's approval for 9,300 observers, he added.

Executive Director of Jagarani Chakra Foundation Azadul Kabir and Assistant Director of Coast Trust Mostafa Kamal Akond said they were withdrawing from all election monitoring activities this time due to lack of funds and to avoid all debates and misunderstandings raised.

HT Imam, co-chairman of Awami League Election Steering Committee, on December 25, demanded that the Election Commission withdraw permission given to nine local election observer organisations, as most of the observers were “activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami”.

The organisations are: Democracywatch, Khan Foundation, Light House, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Somonnoy Parishad, Jagarani Chakra, Nobolok, Coast Trust, Shariatpur Development Society and Noakhali Rural Development Society.

EC Joint Secretary SM Asaduzzaman said they approved 25,920 local observers from 81 organisations to monitor the election.

These organisations applied for the approval of 34,671 local observers, according to EC sources.

Around 1.6 lakh domestic and 600 international observers monitored the 2008 election. About 2.18 lakh domestic and 225 international observers monitored the 2001 election.

However, the number of voters and polling stations are much higher this time than in 2008.

In the 2001 polls, 29,978 polling centres were set up for 7.50 crore voters. In 2008, there were 35,263 polling centres for 8.1 crore voters.

For Sunday's election, around 40,183 polling stations will be set up for more than 10.41 crore electorates.