Dhaka: The mayoral and councillor candidates and their supporters of the two Dhaka city corporations on Monday continued roaming different parts of the city begging votes as the polls campaign turned feverish in the capital.

The candidates along with their supporters carrying leaflets went to their voters in various lanes and localities to woo them to cast their votes in favour of their respective symbols.  

In the morning, Awami League-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Annisul Huq conducted campaign in Mohammadpur and Lalmatia areas.

He opened the day’s campaign through a views-exchange meeting at Suchona Community Center at 11 am. Awami League joint general secretaries Dr Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak were, among others, present at the programme.

Annisul Huq urged all the candidates to abide by the electoral laws so that the city dwellers can elect their representatives in a congenial atmosphere.

BNP-backed candidate for DNCC Tabith Awal began the day’s campaign by offering fateha at the mazar of Hazrat Shah Ali at Mirpur-1. He later carried out campaign in Mirpur-1 area.

He urged the voters to cast votes for his ‘Bus’ symbol to make Dhaka a clean and developed city.

Talking to journalists, Tabith alleged that the ruling party mayoral candidate is violating the election code of conduct, while the Election Commission is reluctant about creating a level-playing field.

He said many councillor candidates are still behind the bars in ‘false cases’ while many others cannot come out in fear of getting arrested and harassment by police.  

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) DNCC mayoral candidate Abdullah Al Kafi also carried out campaign in Mirpur-1 area.

Meanwhile, at a views-exchange meeting with the Election Commission, a number of candidates specially councilor ones of Dhaka South City Corporation sought security as they said are suffering from a sense of insecurity for various reasons, including threat by their rivals.

A number of candidates also demanded army deployment to ensure fair balloting.

Abdus Salam Azad, on behalf of BNP-supported mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas, said, “I’m requesting the Election Commission to deploy army during the polls for holding it in a free and fair manner.”

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad sought cooperation from all candidates in stopping use of black money and muscle power in the election. “We’re giving top priority to arrange the election in free and fair manner,” he added.

Meanwhile, Afroza Abbas, wife of BNP-backed Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayoral candidate, carried out electioneering in favour of her husband in the city’s Fakirerpool, Arambagh, Motijheel, Bangabhaban Staff Quarter areas while her husband went to the High Court coming out of his hideout to seek bail in three criminal cases filed against him.  

Afroza said they might announce the election manifesto of Abbas on Wednesday.

She also hoped that her husband will join electioneering as soon as he gets bail in the cases.

Supporters of DSCC ruling party-blessed candidate Sayeed Khokon also carried out campaign in different areas of the city with six horse carts. They distributed leaflets and raised slogans through loud speakers seeking vote in favour of Khokon’s election symbol Hilsa.  

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.