Not Abbas, but his wife out on electioneering

Although BNP-blessed mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mirza Abbas is still out of field, his wife Afroza Abbas kicked off campaign on Wednesday morning in favour of him.

Afroza together with several hundred BNP leaders and activists formally began the polls campaign from in front of Shantipur School at Khilgaon around 10am.

She went to different lanes of Khilgaon with leaflets and sought vote for her husband.

Talking to reporters, Afroza alleged that the level-playing field is yet to be created for all candidates to carry out their campaigns and contest the elections.

About joining the polls by BNP, she said it has been in the election race as part of its movement strategy.

Asked why her husband is not there in the field, Afroza said how he will carry out the campaign if he does not get bail from the court as he is accused in many cases. “It’s the responsibility of the government to make the election competitive one so that all can come out in the field.”

She, however, hoped that Abbas will soon get bail soon and join the electioneering.

Afroza is also scheduled to carry out campaign in Basabo, Madartek, Buddhist Temple, Basabo, Dhaka Medical College and Shahbagh areas throughout the day.

Though most mayoral and councillor candidates, including the Awami League and Jatiya-backed ones, of Dhaka South and North city corporations’ polls kicked off their formal election campaigns on Tuesday, no BNP-blessed mayoral candidates or any one in favour of them were seen in the field to do so.

Ruling party-backed Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayoral contender Sayeed Khokan, accompanied by several hundreds people, began his polls campaign on Tuesday at Jatrabari entry point of Hanif Flyover in the city while AL-blessed Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral contestant Annisul Huq the same day launched his polls campaign in the city’s Banani area begging votes.

BNP insiders said the party candidates could not start the polls campaign mainly in fear of arrest by police as the contestants other than Tabith Awal are now accused in a number of criminal cases.

They said Mirza Abbas, who is facing 60 cases, is likely to come out on the streets from his hiding for electioneering once he gets bail from the High Court.

Earlier on Monday midnight, the formal electioneering began in the three city corporation elections, slated for April 28.