Campaigns are officially over and Sylhet city now awaits polling for the City Corporation elections where the main contest is expected to be between long-time Mayor and Awami League leader Badr Uddin Ahmad Kamran and BNP leader Ariful Islam Chowdhury.
Though there is another independent candidate, he is not a formidable contender.
Though Awami League leader Kamran had won the last Mayor elections by a big margin, he is not complacent and trying everything possible to take an edge over his rival.
He is trying to steer public his way by pointing at the role of BNP leader Ariful Islam after the ‘disappearance’ of his former BNP colleague M Ilias Ali.
Locals say, Kamran has been using the unstable population – indigenous people, religious minorities, hawkers, slum dwellers and others – as his ‘vote bank’. Now, Arif is also eying them.
A Sylhet city resident and a student of Dhaka University’s Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Ghalib Ashraf told bdnews24.com that BNP leader Arif had roped in public representatives from Mymensingh and Netrokona areas to campaign for him among the migrant population.
“He is going door-to-door saying his in-laws are from Netrokona. By this, he is targeting the non-Sylheti voters – who are known to be a vote bank of Kamran.”
A businessman Mostaque Ahmed told bdnews24.com that though Kamran was Mayor for the last 18 years, “there has been little development during his long tenure”.
“Kamran had brought Arif into the Nagar Unnayan Committee (city development committee) to get work done during the BNP rule. Now Arif is claiming developments could take place during that period because of him. So, he is under consideration of many electorates.”
Akram Hossain, a student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, root for the Awami League candidate telling bdnews24.com that Kamran comes across not as a party man but as a Mayor. “He also attends several social programmes regularly.”
“He tried to be good with everyone. He supplied water to Hifazat-e Islam, he also have some business dealings with Jamaat-e-Islam. Many are however angry on him for this,” Hossain said.
“Those responsible for torching MC College hostel are also campaign for him. Kamran is a bit nervous over this.”
Akram’s friend Abu Hanif says “Arif is trying to take credit for the development done in Sylhet and nearby areas by Saifur (former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman). He is campaigning with BNP-Jamaat supporters.”
“He is in an uncomfortable position with charges of corruption, terrorism, villa in endowed property etc.”
On the last day of campaign on Thursday, Kamran appeared to have using the issue of “disappearance” of Ilias as a major weapon to hit at his rival. Many young leaders from Karman camp were seen asking people to scrutinise the role of Arif in Ilias’ ‘disappearance’.
One voter, Kamal Ahmed, told bdnews24.com, that Arif had “patronised” terrorist ‘Chamak’, who died in a cross-fire during the rule of a caretaker government. “What is the guarantee he will not patronise another if voted as Mayor?”
On Kamran’s weakness, this voter said BNP seemed to be more organised.
Another voter Habibur Rahman said Kamran was always available. “He is good for the poor. But, water stagnation during monsoon could dent his prospect.”
“When Arif was in the Nagar Committee, a group of youths had engaged in extortion, terrorism etc. And when they were nabbed, they flaunt themselves as Arif bhai’s men.”
Habib said this is sure to be at the back of voters’ mind during the polling.
According to a Nagar Bhaban contractor Anwar Hossain this time gap between the votes polled in favour of the two contenders would narrow down. “If people remember what Kamran had done for them during his tenure then scales are sure to tip in his favour.”
Though, there is another Mayoral candidate in Sylhet City Corporation elections, he is not in the city’s buzz. Independent candidate Salah Uddin Riman will be contesting with a ‘lock’ symbol.
Metropolitan Awami League President and Nagarik Committee candidate Kamran has ‘pineapple’ as his poll-sign. “Television” is the electoral symbol of central BNP member and Sammilita Nagorik Jote candidate Ariful Haque.
Some 291,046 voters are expected to cast their votes in 127 centres across the city.
Source: Bd news24
