The two main mayor aspirants of Gazipur City Corporations are passing hectic days, seeking votes at different Iftar parties and discussions as election-day draws near. A good number of incumbent and former ministers and lawmakers from the ruling Awami League (AL) are also attending the Iftar parties, seeking votes for AL mayoral candidate Advocate Jahangir Alam.
At an Iftar party and discussion programme on Friday, Jahangir Alam asked for the blessings and cooperation of all to build Gazipur as a planned green and cleaner city. On the other hand, BNP candidate and the party’s central executive committee member, Hasan Uddin Sarker blamed AL for the widespread misery of the people in the city and advised the AL mayor to apologise to city dwellers, instead of seeking votes from them.
Meanwhile, Minister for Liberation War Affairs, AKM Mozammel Haque and State Minister for Women and Children Affairs, Meher Afroz Chumki attended two separate meetings and iftar parties at their respective constituencies in Gazipur.
Commenting that the government has allocated a huge amount for the development of Gazipur, Mozammel Haque called upon the people of Gazipur to cooperate and allow the continuation of development.
“Extend your hand of support by voting for advocate Jahangir Alam.”
Boat is the symbol of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; the country develops whenever the symbol of boat comes to power, said Meher Afroz Chumki at another programme held at Pubail College field in the city.
“So vote for Jahangir to ensure development.”
BNP mayor candidate Hasan Uddin Sarker, while addressing reporters at his residence in Tongi, on Friday, alluded to the waterlogging facing the city, saying: people know very well who is responsible for such a situation.
He further added that if the present mayor, Professor MA Mannan, was given the opportunity to work, the fate of Gazipur people would have been better.
Mayor Mannan called a tender worth Tk. 400 crore; but was not allowed to do the job as there was no scope for taking the percentage or manipulating the tender, the mayor aspirant observed.

Indicating to the AL mayoral candidate, he said, "People of Gazipur know who withheld the tender through lobbying; the AL candidate should seek apology from the people first rather than seeking votes.”