Dhaka: The electioneering for the polls in the two city corporations in Dhaka gained further momentum, with the announcement of election manifestos by some mayoral candidates and intensified mass contacts at different parts of the city on Sunday.  

In the morning, the mayoral candidates of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) begged votes from people after announcing election manifesto and through mass contact, while the mayoral candidates of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) took part in a views-exchange meeting with the Election Commission.

Sayeed Khokon, the Awami League-backed mayoral candidate for the DSCC, announced his election manifesto in the morning at the Institution of Diploma Engineers promising to rebuild Dhaka as a modern city through planned development works.

‘My main aim to build a livable and modern city…I’ll prioritise five problems— reducing traffic congestion, making Buriganga pollution-free, ensuring water, electricity and gas supply, turning into Dhaka a clean and healthy city and ensuring secure public life— for solution and thus achieve the target,’ he added.

He went on saying, ‘I didn’t make any impractical promise… I’ll implement the pledges even at the cost of my life.’

Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed mayoral candidate for the DSCC Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas carried out campaign in Shantinagar, Malibagh, Siddheshwari and Mouchak areas, also in the morning.

‘We’re confident about Abbas’ victory as we’re getting good response from the voters,’ she said while talking to reporters at Bailey Road.

She also said they would declare the election manifesto within this week.

Addressing a street rally at Siddheshwari, Afroza said, ‘Mirza Abbas is Dhaka’s son. His only dream is to rebuild Dhaka as a modern city.’

BNP leader Mirza Abbas is in hideout as he is facing 60 criminal cases.

Meanwhile, in a views-exchange meeting with the Election Commission, all mayoral candidates of Dhaka North City Corporation, including Awami League backed Annisul Huq, demanded a level-playing field for all.

Several mayoral candidates demanded army deployment for maintaining law and order situation ahead of the polls.

Pro-BNP mayoral candidate Tabith Awal sought the commission’s intervention so that the leaders and activists of BNP-led 20-Party Alliance, most of whom are in jail and hideout, can get involved in the campaign.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad reaffirmed that the elections to the three city corporations will be free and fair.

A total of 20 mayoral candidates are contesting the elections in the DSCC polls while 16 the DNCC polls to be held on 28 April.