The BNP’s mayoral candidates for the upcoming Dhaka City polls slated for Jan 30 have kicked off the polls campaign flanked by senior leaders.
Dhaka South city’s candidate Ishraque Hossain started his election campaign from Baitul Mukarram mosque in Dhaka.
The promotional activities were kicked off at the north gate of the national mosque on Friday (Jan 10), after the Election Commission (EC) allotted ‘sheaf of paddy’ as polls symbol to the BNP candidate.
BNP leaders, activists including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, National Standing Committee members -- Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas accompanied him during the campaign.
Terming the EC as ‘spineless and toothless tiger’, Ishraque said, “Dhaka South city has been covered with colourful posters of Awami League’s candidate. We have filed a proof-attached complaint about the issue.”
“They [EC] have remained silent [on the allegation],” he added.
Ishraque, the son of undivided Dhaka city’s former Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka claimed that he is not concerned over the EC’s ‘inability’ as he is contesting as per electoral code of conduct.
On the same day, BNP’s Dhaka North candidate Tabith Mohammed Awal rolled out election campaign at the capital’s Uttara-7 Jame mosque.
BNP leaders, activists along with the party senior leader Fakhrul and Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna joined his campaign rally.
Expressing hope for the EC’s active role to ensure fair and acceptable polls, Tabith said, he wants everyone to exercise their voting rights.
“This election is a step to free [incarnated BNP chief] Khaleda Zia as well as democracy,” Fakhrul said during the campaign.
“We believe that the people will vote Tabith Awal to free Khaleda Zia and democracy,” he added.