Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas on Saturday demanded that her husband be granted bails in all the criminal cases filed against him apart from releasing the arrested opposition leaders and activists for the sake of fair polls.

‘The government has said it wants to hold a competitive election. If it’s really sincere to hold fair polls it must give our candidate Mirza Abbas and other councillor candidates and their supporters the equal opportunity,’ she said.

Afroza, who started the election campaign in favour of her husband on Wednesday as Abbas has been in hiding to avoid arrest, made the remarks while carrying out electioneering in the city’s Segunbagicha area.

She claimed though Abbas could not conduct electioneering, she is getting overwhelming response from voters in favour of him.

Though Abbas is not in the field, Afroza said he has contact with his leaders and activists. ‘Abbas’ presence is not a big deal since he’s very familiar with people. But all the voters want to see the candidate. So, we hope Abbas will get bails in the false cases filed against him.’

Afroza together with BNP leaders and activists also carried out the electioneering in the city’s Topkhana area amid various slogans of Abbas supporters in favour of his election symbol ‘Mug’.