Ctg-8 By-polls: Campaign gaining momentum

Campaign for Chattogram-8 by-polls is gaining momentum with the election getting closer.

In their relentless efforts to garner people’s support, candidates are going door to door.

In the constituency (Boalkhali-Chandgaon), a total of six candidates -- including an independent -- are competing in the polls scheduled for January 13.

Locals said there will be a fight between ruling Awami League and BNP candidates although contestants from other parties -- including Bangladesh Nationalist Front, Islamic Front Bangladesh and National Awami Party -- are also in the race.

AL-nominated Moslem Uddin Ahmed, in his campaign, is pledging for a road bridge over the river Karnaphuli.

Moslem, also president of Chattogram south district unit of AL, yesterday organised a views-exchange meeting with journalists at Chattogram Press Club where he said he is in touch with the pulse of locals as he was born in Chattogram.

On the other hand, BNP candidate Abu Sufian is not familiar with this as he is “an outsider”, Moslem added.

Moslem said, if he is elected, works on a road bridge in Kalurghat will start in a year.

Moslem said he wants to be elected with people’s support in a participatory polls. “I do not want violence. I want a fair election,” he said at the meeting.

Meanwhile, BNP candidate Abu Sufian is campaigning for people’s rights to vote. “We want to free our leader Begum Khaleda Zia from jail,” he said while talking to The Daily Star.

“My appeal to voters is to give me mandate to stand against the government’s wrongdoings,” he said.

Abu Sufian from Chokoria in Cox’s Bazar has been permanently living in Chattogram’s Chandgaon for years.

Talking about the outsider issue, he said, “It is an obtuse weapon in the modern age… when Bangladeshi origins Tuilp and Rushanara are elected lawmakers in British parliament.”

About the bridge, Sufian said, “As far as I know, the government is planning to build a rail bridge in Kalurghat but people’s demand is for a road-rail bridge… what Moslem is pledging is sheer deception with voters.”

“If I am elected, I will try my best to realise people’s demand for a rail-road bridge in Kalurghat,” he said.

A total of 4,75,988 voters are expected to cast their votes through electronic voting machine in the polls, said election commission officials.