The two contesting candidates of Kishoreganj-4 constituency by-polls AL-backed Rejwan Ahmed Towfiq and rebel candidate Syed Mahitul Islam Asim are passing a very busy time in their last moment campaign to win the hearts of the voters. The voting is scheduled to take place on today (Wednesday). The seat became vacant after the present MP Advocate Abdul Hamid was elected as the President of the republic. The upcoming Kishoreganj by polls have triggered lots of expectation among the voters about solving their problems like their crops going under water by fresh flood every year, communication, health, electricity etc.
For years, it has been a common phenomenon that a flood causes crops drowned in different parts of remote Itna, Mithamoin and Austagram haor region.
Ruling Awami League and AL rebel candidate have deployed unprecedented measures in the election campaign to make sure the MP candidates backed by them win the by- election on July 3.
Kishoreganj haor is now abuzz with political bigwigs, lawmakers, and activists who are rushing there every day from the capital and adjacent areas.
The Awami League is desperate for a win here, with Syed Asim, to retain a victory in a seat which was for long held by former law maker and at present the incumbent president of Bangladesh Advocate Muhammad Abdul Hamid. The party high-ups are also very concerned about this election. They have assigned lawmakers along with central leaders, many of whom are staying in Kishoreganj haor area.
A number of Chhatra League leaders and activists from Dhaka had gone to Kishoreganj to campaign for Towfiq. They were seen holding meetings at different places.
Like the ruling party, the rebel candidate Asim has also formed many teams, led mostly by his local supporters and relatives.
Earlier, Rejwan Ahmed Towfiq, eldest son of President Abdul Hamid, was nominated by Bangladesh Awami League as its candidate to contest the Kishoreganj-4 by-polls. Asim, publicity secretary of Astagram upazila unit of the party complained Towfiq, the eldest son of President Abdul Hamid, was using the government rest house and pasting posters on restricted walls by violating the rules.
He also complained to the journalists, the much talked about controversial DC Harun of Lalbhag region in Dhaka is engaged in publicity and mass communication for AL candidate in last two days violating election code as his (Harun) home place is Ghagra village in Mithamoin while some other police personnel like CID Jamal Uddin Mir and Omar Faruq Manju, former Tejgaon thana OC, also participated in the campaign for Towfiq. Regarding the allegation against the law enforcers, Asim said he has submitted a written complaint to the election commission demanding the withdrawal of three OCs of three police stations of the constituency.
As a part of his electoral pledge, Asim told the voters that he does not belong to any party, but to the voters.
He also claimed that he was only participating in the poll as a protest to bring a change to the leadership of 42 years, which has deprived its people so far.
BGB, RAB, Police and Ansar troops will be deployed on the day of election, while coast guards will be deployed if necessary, the EC Zabed Ali said while visiting recently in Kishoreganj.
Besides, around 5000 law forces will be deployed for the election as 104 poll centers are risky out of 118 centers, said Md. Siddiqur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Kishoreganj in a law and disciplinary meeting in his offices on Sunday.
-With The Independent input
