Khaleda’s last rally in Dhaka, Hasina’s in Ctg
Shahidul Islam Chowdhury
Electoral campaigns for the December 29 parliamentary polls peaked as the top politicians, including Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, are travelling across the country and the candidates and the activists are trying hard to reach almost every voter in their constituencies.
Apart from supervising the electoral strategy and preparation for the December 29 polls, Khaleda and Hasina are addressing rallies to garner support for their parties and candidates.
Khaleda will conclude her formal electioneering with a rally in Paltan Maidan in Dhaka Saturday afternoon while her archrival Hasina will wind up her election campaigns with a rally in Laldighi Maidan in Chittagong at the same time, according to party sources.
Hasina addresses her last election rally in Paltan Maidan this afternoon. On her way to Chittagong on Saturday, she will also address a number of rallies in Comila and Feni.
The BNP will begin the Paltan rally at 2:00pm Saturday and other top leaders of the BNP-led alliance will also speak, according to the BNP’s spokesman Nazrul Islam Khan.
Khaleda Zia will also address a number of rallies in Dhaka 17, Dhaka 10, Dhaka 8, Dhaka 6, Dhaka 7, Dhaka 13, Dhaka 15 and Dhaka 16 constituencies.
Formal electioneering for the ninth parliamentary elections ends at midnight past Saturday, according to the Election Commission.
Both Khaleda and Hasina will address the nation on Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other television and radio channels either this evening or tomorrow evening, according to party sources.
The authorities concerned will record Khaleda’s address this afternoon, Nazrul Islam Khan said at a regular briefing on Thursday. ‘It is expected that Khaleda Zia, who is the immediate-past prime minister, will be the last of the political leaders to address the nation on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.’
After fielding candidates, both Hasina and Khaleda began electioneering after visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal, Hazrat Shah Paran and Hazrat Gazi Burhanuddin in Sylhet on December 11 and December 12 respectively.
They began full-scale electioneering after announcing their election manifestos — Hasina on December 12 and Khaleda on December 13 in Dhaka.
Both the leaders usually left Dhaka in the morning to address rallies outside the capital. In most cases, Khaleda continued addressing rallies later into night. Hasina concluded her rallies in the evening.
Until December 25 evening, Khaleda addressed about 160 rallies and roadside gathering meetings in 49 districts, while Hasina addressed more than 60 rallies in 22 districts. Khaleda held several rallies at five to eight hours’ notice.
Thousands of people attended the rallies of the two top leaders as these were their first visit to most of the districts after their release from about a year’s imprisonment.
Hasina, who also addressed several rallies through videoconferencing, is scheduled to address rallies in Comilla, Feni and Chittagong today.
Apart from seeking votes through rallies and processions, the candidates are also hanging posters and banners, setting up placards, reaching slips to the voters and joining social programmes in respective constituencies almost round-the-clock. They are also setting agents for polling centres.
The military-controlled interim government and the Election Commission are making last-minute preparations for the polls, according to sources in the government and the commission.
The EC has started sending polls materials, including ballot paper and stationeries, to the districts, while the returning officers are preparing polling centres and ensuring appointments of the polls officials at the centres.
They are also coordinating with the law enforcement agencies for keeping law and order on the polling day
Courtesy: newagebd.com
