The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pankaj Barua, Sitakunda

Five candidates for the post of Mayor, 37 for Councilors and 11 for the reserved seats for women were allotted symbols for the upcoming Sitakunda Municipality election on August 4 at the office of the Returning Officer on July 14.

Among the candidates, former Mayor Nayek (Retd) Shafiul Alam was allotted the symbol Umbrella for the post of Mayor. Among others, Alhajj Md Abul Kalam Azad (present incumbent) was allotted wall clock, ATM Saifuddin (wheel), Md Nurun Nabi Bhuiyan (Pineapple) and Md Nizam Uddin (chair).

The candidates for the reserved seats for women in Ward Nos. 1,2,3, are Mina Akhter (table), Anwara Begum (candle), Fazilatunnesa Hossain (Aeroplane) and Anwara Begum (Lotus).

In Ward Nos. 4,5,6 the female candidates are Mahfuza Mowla Lucky (table), Zakera Begum (candle), and Khaleda Akhter (Lotus).

In Ward Nos. 7,8,9 the women candidates are Masuda Begum (Aeroplane), Monwara Begum (Bus) and Shaheda Akhter (Lotus).

For the post of councilors in Ward No.1 the candidates are Md Shamsul Alam Manik (Pitcher), Md Nizam Uddin Nizami (Bucket), Md Yunus Mian (Ladder), Md Nurun Nabi Shahazahan (Fish), Md Selim Uddin (Cock), in Ward No. 2 Md. Shaha Alam (Ladder), Maimun Uddin Mamun (Pitcher), Md. Aman Ullah (Football), Md Zainal Abedin (Fish), in Ward No. 3 Md Ibrahim (Pitcher), Md Saidur Rahman Chowdhury (Ladder), AKM Shamsul Azad (Fish) and Md Fasiul Alam (Cock), in Ward No. 4 Abu Nasir (Television), Md Omar Faruq (Pitcher) Haradhon Chowdhury (Elephant), Md Zainul Abedin (Fish), Md Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury ( Ladder), in Ward No. 5 Md Nurul Alam (Pitcher), Md Raihan Uddin Rehan (Television), Md Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Murad (Fish), Master Swapon Kumar Chakrabarty (Ladder) , in Ward No. 6 Qazi Md Mohiuddin Sohel (Pitcher), Md. Zahurul Alam (Fish), Md Nurul Huda Mintu (Ladder), Ashish Kumar Chowdhury (Football), in Ward No. 7-Md Nurul Gani (Pitcher), Md Zamal Uddin (Television), Biswanath Das (Ladder), AJM Hossain Bhuiyan (Fish), in Ward No. 8--Md Abul Kalam (Pitcher), Rafiqul Alam (Football), Md Shariat Ullah (Ladder), Alhajj Md Siraj Uddin (Fish), in Ward No. 9- Md Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury (Cock), Julfikar Ali Masud (Fish), and Md. Nurul Islam (Pitcher).

Md Badiulm Alam and Nur Mostafa Mintu withdrew their candidacies for the post of Mayor. Due to providing wrong information or mistakes in the submitted nomination papers, the candidacies of Dulal Chandra Dey (Ward No. 4) and Lalan Choudhury (Ward No. 6) for the post of councilors were cancelled.

On the other hand, the candidacy of Khaleda Akhter for the post of councilor for the reserved seats for women was cancelled for not fulfilling the age requirement. In addition, Harun Ur Rashid (Ward No.2), Md. Zainal Abedin (Ward No. 6), and Md Liakat Ali (Ward No. 9) withdrew their candidacies for the post of councilor.

After getting the allocation of their desired symbols, the candidates started their election campaign. They are passing busy days visiting the voters and exchanging pleasantries with them. They are trying their best to win the support of the voters committing to welfare for locals.

Former Mayor of Sitakunda Municipality Nayek (Retd) Shafiul Alam said, "People know what I did for them during my tenure and they always found and will find me in their need. That is why on the campaign I am getting unprecedented response from the voters. In the last term my Victory was snatched away. If this time the election is free and fair, I am very optimistic about winning the election.". Alhajj Md Abul Kalam Azad (The present incumbent), a candidate for the post of Mayor, said, " I tried my level best to work for the all round development of the municipality area. It is true that due to the limitation of funds I could not complete some development present. But if I am elected this time again, I'll try to finish the incomplete work." .

Though the pourashabha election is thought to be a non-party election, the political identity of the candidates will have an impact on the election. Of the five candidates for the post of mayor, three are from the major political parties of the country. They are Awami league supported candidate Nayek(Rtd). Shafiul Alam, BNP Supported candidate Alhajj Abul Kalam Azad, and Jatiyo Party(Ershad) Supported candidate Md Nurun Nabi Bhuiyan. Though the other two candidates have also the political identity of the two major political parties of the country- ATM Saifuddin Shaheen(Awami League) and MD Nizam Uddin Nizam (BNP), they are competing in the election as the independent candidates. Mean while ATM Saifuddin Shaheen was expelled form Awami League for being the candidate for the post of Mayor. These two independent candidates will be the cause of headache for the two arch rivals Nayek (Rtd) Shafiul Alam and Alhajj Abul Kalam Azad. But both candidates rejected any possibility of harm by the two independent candidates and expressed their hope of winning the election.

Due to the changed political situation of the country and the upcoming national election, the major political parties are also putting much importance the 9 pourashabha elections to be held on Aug 4, 2008. They are taking this election of the 4 city corporations and 9 pourashabhas to be held on Aug 4, 2008 as a means of assessing their position among the voters.

There is a festive look in the pourashabha area indicated by the electoral camps set up in places of the different Wards of the municipality area by the candidates. The posters of the symbols of the respective candidates are found everywhere in the poura area. But due to the state of emergency an ebb of spontaneous participation of the voters in the election campaign in support of the candidates is observed.

However the voters are found to be more conscious than ever before in electing the right candidates. Md shafiul Alam, a voter said "The candidates will have to prove that they are true to their words and that they have the tendency to work for the people. This time mere promises of the candidates will not do at all." On the other hand Sushanta Barua, a voter said "We will vote him or her who will stand by us in our weal and woe and who is sincere and honest."