Dhaka city polls: Symbols allotted to mayoral candidates

The returning officers allotted electoral symbols to the mayoral candidates for contesting elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

The candidates can start their election campaign formally in a bid to contest the city elections as per the electoral code of conduct.

The campaign will continue till 32 hours before voting starts at 8:00am on January 30.

DNCC

Among the six DNCC mayoral candidates, Awami League’s Atiqul Islam (AL) got 'boat' symbol while BNP’s Tabith Awal got ‘Sheaf of paddy’ and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Sajedul Huq Rubel ‘sickle’, Sheikh Md Fazle Bari Masud (Islami Andolan Bangladesh) 'Hat Pakha', Shahin Khan (Progressive Democratic Party) ‘tiger’, and Anisur Rahman Dewan (National Peoples Party) ‘mango’.

Sajedul Huq Rubel (CPB) is taking symbol Kaste (sickle) from Returning Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Abul Kashem while alloting six mayoral candidates of the city corporation elections in a programme on Friday, January 10, 2020. Photo: Star.

Besides, Returning Officer Abul Kashem started allotting election symbols to 248 ward councillor aspirants and 75 reserved seat for women councillor candidates to compete in the election.

Meanwhile, CPB candidate Sajedul Huq Rubel kicked off his campaign from Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial in Mirpur after getting the symbol.

Atiqul Islam and Tabith Awal will start their campaign from Uttara area after Juma prayers.

While allotting the symbols to the candidates, RO Abul Kashem said action will be taken against the persons who will violate electoral code and conduct.

“Election is a festival. We never allow it (violation of electoral code of conduct), if anyone tries to create any conflict during the festival,” he said.

DSCC

Of the seven mayoral candidates, Returning Officer Abdul Baten allotted 'boat' symbol to Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh (Awami League) and ‘Sheaf of paddy’ to Ishraque Hossain (BNP) and ‘plough’ to Mohammad Saifuddin (Jatiya Party).

Abdur Rahman (Islami Andolan Bangladesh) secured symbol of 'Hat Pakha' while Md Akhtaruzzaman (Bangladesh Congress) got ‘Coconut’ and Bahrane Sultan Bahar (National People’s Party) ‘Mango’ and Abdus Samad (Gonofront) ‘Fish’.

All the mayoral aspirants except Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh were present it the symbol allocation ceremony.