Rivals gear up for close contest

Ctg city polls campaign ends tonight; army deployed
Army personnel were deployed in Chittagong City Corporation area yesterday alongside other law enforcement agencies to improve law and order and ensure enforcement of the electoral code of conduct.
Contestants of the CCC polls continued vigorous campaigns as time for electioneering ends at 12:00am June 16, 32 hours before the start of balloting at 8:00am of June 17.
The Election Commission has almost completed all preparation for holding the polls and the battle for ballots has heated up Chittagong political arena.
In addition to police, Rab and BDR, six companies of the army consisted of 702 personnel were deployed in the city to maintain atmosphere conducive to holding a fair election. They will continue to work until June 18.
Empowered by the electoral laws, the army will engage in election duties and would Enforce the electoral code of conduct. They can arrest anybody without warrants within 400 yards of polling stations on election day in connection with violating electoral laws.
Meanwhile, all indicators point to a close fight between two main mayoral candidates. One backed by the ruling Awami League and the other by main opposition BNP.
Former mayor and Awami League-backed candidate ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and his rival BNP-backed Mohammad Manjur Alam are facing severe internal feud in the parties providing them backing.
However, intervention and participation of central leaders in the electoral campaign did much in pacifying the intra-party feud and grievances of public.
About 2 lakh minority voters may play a vital role in the race. The two are vigorously campaigning for these votes, a clear indication of a tough fight.
ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury was elected for the third time when he defeated BNP-backed Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin by a large margin on May 09, 2005.
His popularity, however, dropped due to feuds he was involved in with local leaders as well as minority community leaders and unilateral decisions he made in carrying out development activities defying opinions of other public representatives.
Mohiuddin, nominated by Nagorik Committee, is yet to ensure sincere involvement of the aggrieved leaders in the electoral campaign.
On the other hand, despite being little known as a mayoral candidate backed by the BNP, Mohammad Manjur Alam has emerged as the main rival of Mohiuddin.
Internal grouping in Chittagong BNP, particularly between the factions loyal to Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman and BNP Chittagong City unit president Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, was feared to mar the prospect of Manjur until the central leaders stepped in to calm things down.
Noman alongside BNP Standing Committee Member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Vice-Chairman M Morshed Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is campaigning for Manjur.
Instructed by central leaders Noman, Khasru, SQ Chowdhury, Mir Nasir sat in a meeting with Manjur yesterday afternoon at Khasru’s Mehedibagh home.
The leaders in the meeting placed emphasis on working unitedly for Manjur, nominated by Chattagram Unnayan Andolan.
However, BNP insiders are still unsure if Noman and his men would continue their support for Manjur or the long-drawn rivalry between Noman and Khasru would ignite again ahead of the polls.
Manjur is also expected to benefit from Mohiuddin’s strained relationship with minority Hindu leaders over a disputed piece of land. But the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed candidate’s withdrawal and support for Manjur has diminished Manjur’s hope for getting a large chunk of Hindu minority votes, sources said.
Election campaign was hampered due to downpours in the port city yesterday that caused waterlogging in different areas.
Manjur along with Noman and Mir Nasir went for mass contact campaign at Chittagong Court Building, KC Dey Road, Loyal Road and Golpahar. He also had campaign programmes at Hamjerbagh, Hill View Residential Area, Amin Jute Mill’s adjoining areas, Panchlaish, Hasan Bazar, Hazipara, and Wazedia where M Morshed Khan, Kazi Belal and Abu Sifian accompanied him.
Mohiuddin went for mass contact campaign seeking votes in different areas including Sarder Bahadur Nagar Bihari Colony, Jhautola.

Courtesy of The Daily Star