Mass wave created in favour of ‘Sheaf of Paddy’: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday carried out electioneering in favour of Tabith Awal, their party’s mayoral candidate in the elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), saying that a mass wave has been created in favour of ‘Sheaf of Paddy’.

Fakhrul along with BNP’s DNCC mayoral contender Tabith Awal started the election campaign from in front of Baitul Mosharraf Jam-e-Mosque near Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in the city’s Mirpur area around 10:30am, UNB reports.

The BNP leader distributed leaflets and sought votes from the voters of all walks of life.

In a brief address there, Fakhrul said they have taken city polls as a challenge for mobilising public support to strength their movement for the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and ‘restoration’ of democracy.

He said they have taken part in the election aiming to involve people with their ongoing movement and give it a final shape by organising people.

The BNP leader expressed high hope that Tabith will win the polls slated for February 1.

“The mass wave that we see in favour of Tabith Awal and the Sheaf of Paddy in the polls is unprecedented. We think Tabith will win with a big margin if the elections are held in a free and fair manner,” he observed.

Fakhrul criticised the government for what he said not taking necessary steps to ensure a credible election. “This Commission has so far failed to perform its duty propel y. The rescheduling of the voting is another proof of their incompetence.”

Later, Fakhrul walked to voters and carried out the campaign for nearly 45 minutes.

Tabith carried out campaign in the various areas of Mirpur and sought votes for the sheaf of paddy.

Speaking at a wayside rally at Mirpur Section-2, the BNP candidate said he is getting tremendous response from voters. “My victory is certain if the voters can cast their votes.”

Tabith said he will take effective steps to improve the traffic situation in the city if he is elected.

He called upon voters to elect him for getting rid of ‘misrule’, corruption, pollution and dengue.

A delegation of Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob and BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, also joined Tabith’s campaign in Mirpur Section-11 area.

Speaking at a wayside rally there, Abdur Rob alleged that the government is trying to rig votes by using EVMs in the city elections.

He urged votes to go to polling stations on February 1 overcoming all the barriers and ensure the victory of the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’.