Dhaka: The mayoral candidates of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) continued their hectic electioneering on Saturday drawing supporters from their respective Awami League and BNP camps.

The candidates along with their supporters went to their voters and begged their blessings in the elections, with making lofty pledges of turning the sprawling two Dhaka city corporations, reeling under myriads of problems, liveable ones again.

Businessman Annisul Huq, an Awami League-backed mayoral candidate for the DNCC election, announced his election manifesto in the morning promising to turn Dhaka into a ‘livable, humanely, green and clean city’.

Annisul, also a former FBCCI president, observed that proper planning as well as right leadership is needed to rebuild Dhaka.

Promising that Nagar Bhaban will not turn into a party office, the ruling party-backed candidate said it will rather be run with the participation of all. ‘I want to be a friend of city dwellers, not father. Common people will be able to inform me about the problems of their respective areas through mobile apps. I’ll try to solve those if I’m elected a mayor in the polls.’

During his electioneering in the morning, Sayeed Khokon, also an AL-backed mayoral candidate for the DSCC, held a street rally at Gendaria of the old part of the city and exchanged views with the voters of ward No 45.

Khokon rejected the allegation of availing of additional advantages as a ruling party-backed candidate saying, ‘Those raising such allegations they must investigate those properly.’  

Pointing at his rival candidate Mirza Abbas, Khokon said if there is any allegation of killing against anyone, he or she should rather seek bail than staying in hideout. ‘If the court grants bail that candidate must come out for electioneering.’

During her campaign, BNP-backed mayoral candidate for the DSCC Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas 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.

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’.

Meanwhile, BNP-backed another candidate for the DNCC Tabith Awal started his second-day campaign at Karail Basti (slum) in the city’s Mohakhali area at about 10:00am.

He conducted over two-hour hectic campaign at the slum and sought both votes and blessings of the slum dwellers. Later, Tabith also carried out electioneering in the city’s Banani and Gulshan areas.

Tabith who kicked off his electioneering on Friday in the city’s Karwan Bazar area after getting his election symbol bus said he will very soon unveil his election manifesto focusing on building a green and clean city.

Gansanghati Andolan candidate for DNCC Zonayed Saki announced his 18-point election manifesto at National Press Club.

A total of 20 mayoral candidates are going to contest the DSCC polls while 16 the DNCC election to be held on 28 April.