CCC election campaign kicks off
The election is scheduled to be held on 27 January
Candidates in the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) election officially started campaigning on Friday afternoon, as per the schedule fixed by the Election Commission (EC).
Both the Awami League and BNP mayoral candidates held rallies in different areas of the city for the election now scheduled for 27 January. Previously, the election was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Awami League's candidate Rezaul Karim started his election campaign by visiting the graves of his parents at his family's graveyard in Bahaddarhat. Meanwhile, BNP mayoral candidate Shahadat Hossain started his election campaign by visiting Amanat Shah's shrine.
On the first day of the campaign, Rezaul Karim announced his plans to turn Chattogram into a smart city.
"Once elected mayor, I will make Chattogram a transparent and smart city by harnessing the power and opinion of the people and applying 100% modern facilities so citizens will easily get all kinds of modern services," he said.
"Chattogram is now on the highway to development. I look forward to your vote in my party symbol boat to make this progress of development smoother and more dynamic," he added.
Meanwhile, on the first day of the campaign, Dr Shahadat Hossain demanded that the people's right to vote be ensured.
"The EC has repeatedly turned the polls into a farce. As people are preparing to go to the polls, even amid the pandemic, their right to vote must be ensured; otherwise, the people of Chattogram will go for a movement," said Dr Shahadat.
He called on the EC to hold free, fair, competitive, and festive elections that protect people's democratic rights and suffrage.
A total of 237 candidates, including seven mayoral candidates, are contesting in this election. CCC has 41 wards and 14 posts for reserved female councillors.