One last effort to woo voters

With yesterday being the last day of campaigning for the by-election to Rangpur-3, candidates spent a busy day visiting different neighbourhoods in the constituency and trying to persuade prospective voters.

The by-election is slated to be held on Saturday. The parliamentary seat fell vacant after HM Ershad, Jatiya Party (JP) chairman and also opposition leader of the House, died on July 14.

According to election officials, all sorts of campaigning will remain suspended from 9am today. The election day has been declared a holiday in Rangpur.

Today, a mock voting using electronic voting machines (EVM) will be held at 175 centres from 10am to 4pm, added the officials.

“We have taken all-out preparation for the by-polls,” GM Sahatab Uddin, regional election officer in Rangpur, told this correspondent yesterday. He said they have already appointed 175 presiding and 2,046 polling officers for the centres.

Besides, sufficient numbers of law enforcers from different agencies -- including police, Rab and BGB -- along with executive magistrates will remain deployed throughout the polls day, Sahatab mentioned.

At least 49 centres out of 175 are “extremely sensitive”, he said, adding that a total of 4,42,072 people are expected to exercise their franchise in the election.

According to the district election officials, six candidates of different political parties including Jatiya Party and BNP are contesting the race.

The constituency (Sadar upazila) is considered the stronghold of JP, the main opposition in parliament. Ershad won all elections he took part in from this seat following the end of his military rule in 1990.

A total of six aspirants from different political parties are contesting the by-polls. Among them, three are actively campaigning. Of the candidates, two are Ershad’s family members -- his son and JP candidate Saad Ershad and nephew Shahriar Asif.

Yesterday, they were seen campaigning with their supporters in Mulatol, Sen Para, Lal Bagh and Co Bazar Intersection areas.

Talking to journalists, Saad said he is optimistic about winning. Throughout the day, no senior leaders were seen beside him.

Asif, who is contesting as an independent candidate, assured residents of developing the constituency, if elected.

Meanwhile, the election office in Rangpur warned two of his supporters for violating election code.

Another active candidate, BNP’s Rita Rahman alleged that other candidates are using multiple loudspeakers but election officials were not taking any action against that.

Asked, the regional election officer said no one complained to him regarding the matter.

Yesterday, some senior BNP leaders were seen campaigning for Rita in Station Road area.

Besides Saad, Asif and Rita, the other contestants are: Shafiul Alam of National People’s Party, Kazi Mohammad Shahidullah of Gono Front and Touhidur Rahman Mondol of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.

On Monday, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda visited the area and warned of tough action if any untoward incident takes place at polling centres.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad in a press statement yesterday urged members of minority communities to boycott the election as their demand for deferring the by-polls -- which falls on the day of Maha Saptami -- has not been met.

The election is scheduled for October 5, while the five-day Durga Puja festivities begin October 4.