Campaigns of 4 candidates gain momentum

Campaigning for the mayoral post in the by-election of Cumilla City Corporation has gained momentum with four mayor aspirants going from door to door of the city dwellers in a bid to lure the voters.

However, since the election is only for the post of mayor, the excitement is much less than the main election.
Political analysts say as there will be no election for the post of councilors based on the ward, the campaigning has been limited among the supporters of the four mayoral candidates.

Already posters and banners of the candidates have covered the cityscape as the symbol allocation was completed five days ago, but there is still a lack of enthusiasm among the common city dwellers over the election.

However, election analysts believe that with the approach of the election day, scheduled for March 9 next, general voters will also be involved with election campaigning, creating a festive polling atmosphere all over the city.

On Monday, Awami League (AL) supported mayoral candidate Dr Tahsin Bahar Suchana, daughter of organizing secretary of Cumilla metropolitan Awami League, and also a lawmaker, AKM Bahauddin Bahar, conducted mass communication and distributed leaflets in various areas of the city throughout the day. She is vying for the election with the ‘bus’ symbol. At that time, she conducted mass communication, accompanied by AL leaders and activists, in the city's Kaliajuri, Chhotara and surrounding areas.

During the campaign, Tahsin Bahar said, "If elected, I will build a corruption-free city administration and work for the development of the city.”
She asked everyone to pray for her and vote for the bus symbol.

On the same day, former BNP leader and former city mayor Monirul Haque Sakku campaigned at Disaband, Kazipara and New Market areas in the city.

Sakku, participating in the election with the ‘table clock’ symbol, alleged that some of his activists were beaten up for putting up his poster. He submitted video footage of the incident to the Election Commission.
Besides, he also filed a general diary with the police station.

During the campaign, he said, "I was the mayor twice in a row. I worked following a plan to organise the city. To finish the unfinished work, you should vote for the table clock symbol."
Monirul Haque Sakku was elected Chairman of Comilla Municipality on 21 September 2005. In 2009, he was elected as the mayor of the city. He was elected as the Mayor of Cumilla City Corporation for two consecutive terms on January 5, 2012 and March 30, 2017.

On the other hand, ‘horse’ symbol’s candidate Nizam Uddin Qaiser campaigned in Race Course, Kandirpar and its surrounding areas of the city on Monday.

At that time, he said, "People of Cumilla want change. The people do not want to elect corrupt candidates any more. That's why the people of Cumilla have become united. During the last three days, the people of Cumilla have taken to the streets seeing me.”

He said, "They want to buy the people with black money. But with me are the leaders and activists of the Awami League who had become the victims of torture of corrupt Awami League leaders. They are giving me protection and they are with me.”

Nur Ur Rahman Mahmud Tanim, another mayoral candidate, is also campaigning vigorously in the by-election. He attended a public meeting at Faujdari intersection in the city. Accompanied by his supporters, this candidate of 'elephant' symbol campaigned in different wards of the city on Monday morning.

He said, "If everything goes well, I am hopeful of winning with the huge response from the voters. The people of Cumilla are now very aware."