An environment-friendly election campaign

Shunning the poster culture in elections, an AL-backed ward councillor candidate in the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) election has titled his campaign "Healthy Ward" and is going for a poster-free campaign.

Shailbal Das Sumon -- the incumbent and councillor candidate -- said he will campaign in the cyberspace and other platforms.

Using the push-cart symbol, Shaibal is contesting in the CCC election scheduled for March 29.

During his current tenure, Shaibal has made a name as an environment-friendly councillor.

He has taken initiatives such as removing open dumpsters from streets, setting up roadside waste bins and planting trees.

Talking to The Daily Star, Shaibal said, "We always talk about preserving nature but are doing little towards that. Through my digital campaign and shunning the poster culture, I want to make the public aware of the need to save nature and greenery of port city.

"I will conduct my electioneering via voice SMS, SMS, digital content on Facebook and door-to-door campaigning. I will also distribute leaflets," he said.

In a Facebook video last night, Shaibal advised others not to put up posters in the ward and pledged to have a digital election campaign.

The video went viral on social media and till filing of this report had been seen 38,000 times and had 843 shares.

"I have pledged to you that any kind of posters will not be used in the green Jamal Khan ward to set an example in the election history of our country," he said.

Election campaigning has started across the city since March 9 and the Election Commission has banned the use of laminated posters in electioneering.

According to the EC office, six mayoral candidates, 56 candidates in reserved seats for women and 161 councillor candidates in general wards will vie in city corporation election.