Sylhet electioneering begins in full swing
S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Electioneering begins in full swing Electioneering in the holy land of Sylhet began on Thursday as most candidates kicked it off formally.
Only 16 days are left for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election. In view of the election, the activities of various political parties have increased across Sylhet division. This time, competitive elections are going to be held in almost all of the 19 constituencies of the division. Candidates and party leaders and activists are spending a busy time campaigning from door to door to reach out to voters.
Especially after the allocation of symbols, the formal campaign has started. Various political parties and independent candidates have been campaigning with their supporters in their own areas through public relations, leaflet distribution, processions with party symbols, playing songs and chanting slogans. Candidates and their supporters are running door to door to voters, while candidates are conveying their message to voters through announcement.
This time, the main election competition in Sylhet division is between BNP and Jamaat-backed candidates. However, BNP’s rebel candidates in various constituencies have complicated the electoral equation. In the context of a participatory election after 17 years, the politics on the ground are heating up.
BNP has officially started its election campaign from Sylhet-1 constituency, known as a prestigious constituency. Party Chairman Tarique Rahman came to Sylhet and addressed a public meeting organized at Alia Madrasa Ground. Discussions have been created in the political arena around this public meeting.
The party has expelled five rebel candidates of Sylhet division for participating in the election in defiance of the party’s decision. This decision was announced in a notification signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
A total of 33 candidates, including party and independent candidates, are contesting in the six parliamentary constituencies of Sylhet district. After the allocation of symbols, the candidates have returned to their respective areas to start campaigning. After the public meeting at Alia Madrasa Ground, increased enthusiasm was seen among the party leaders and workers.
?District BNP President Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury has been given the responsibility of BNP’s chief coordinator in six constituencies of Sylhet district to coordinate the election activities. He has been playing an active role at the field level since taking charge.
He joined the opinion exchange meeting after the mass mobilization of the paddy sheaf symbol in support of BNP candidate for Sylhet-3 constituency MA Malek organized by Union BNP at Jalalpur Bazar in South Surma Upazila on Sunday (January 25) at 4:30 pm.
At the meeting, he called on the people of Sylhet, including the countrymen, to attend the polling stations in the upcoming elections and vote with the paddy sheaf symbol and play a united role in restoring democracy.
Meanwhile,the voting for the 13th National Parliament election will be held on Thursday, February 12 from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm in transparent ballot boxes through ballot papers. The new shape of the future of Bangladesh will be determined through this vote.