CCC Polls Schedule: Most mayoral candidates for deferring Jan 27 date

Considering the ongoing coronavirus situation, many mayoral candidates including the one endorsed by BNP are not happy with Election Commission's decision to hold Chattogram City Corporation election at the end of January.

The candidates said they would face difficulties to mobilise their followers for election campaign amid Covid-19 pandemic. The coronavirus situation has not improved; rather, it has "worsened", they said.

On the other hand, the Awami League candidate welcomed EC's decision.

On Monday, EC Senior Secretary Mohammad Alamgir while briefing journalists in Dhaka declared that the EC would hold the CCC polls on January 27 next year.

The election -- which was originally scheduled to be held on March 29 this year -- had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

BNP mayoral candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain told The Daily Star, "The EC should not go for any polls putting people at health risk."

"The coronavirus situation has worsened compared to that in March when the EC postponed the election," he said.

"We have to understand that polls is for people, people are not for polls," he said. The EC should wait unit the situation improves, he added.

Echoing him, MA Matin, Bangladesh Islami Front mayoral candidate, said, "If we have to go for polls amid pandemic, why did we waste one year of time then?"

"The EC should have talked to the stakeholders before taking the decision."

Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Jannatul Islam said, "I can't put my activists at health risk. The EC should have talked to all candidates too," he said.

However, AL mayoral candidate Rezaul Karim hailed EC's decision of holding the CCC election on January 27. "We will have to follow all precautions and health rules during the polls," he said.

"City dwellers have been deprived of civic amenities in absence of ward councillors and mayor for a long time," said Rezaul.

When asked why they are going to hold the polls amid the pandemic, Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, regional election officer in Chattogram, said EC wants to hold it by February 5; otherwise, a new schedule will have to be prepared.

He said they are yet to receive the official order regarding CCC polls. "Once we get it, we will take steps accordingly."

A total of seven candidates for the mayoral post and 269 for 55 ward councillor posts including women reserved seats are going to contest the polls, EC sources said.

Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Bangladesh, in a statement on Tuesday, demanded deferment of all elections including CCC polls considering the second wave of coronavirus.