List of final candidates has been published after the scrutiny of nomination papers in the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election.
However, the names of the heavyweight candidates backed by major political parties are already known to voters despite the symbol allocation left for the mayor post.
Voters say they want to select the honest and capable candidate as the city Mayor who will continue development works. They want to ensure their citizen service by voting the eligible candidate.
Awami League candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton apparently is ahead in this regard as he made visible development in the city as a mayor from 2008 to 2013. BNP nominated candidate Mohammad Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul could not show his performance for being sacked repeatedly, and jailed.
RCC received Tk 173 crore at the end of Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul's term However, through local parliament member Fazle Hossain Badsha. for implementing various projects because the city corporation could not work much before that.
When the salary and allowances of the employees of the RCC started movement for their salary arrears before Eid, Badsha and former mayor Khairuzzaman Liton spent the Tk 173 crore for the payment of due salary for the employees.
AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, son of Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman, one of the four national leaders killed in Jail Killings on June 3, was the mayor before Bulbul. During this time, he was showered with praised for completing development works worth about Tk 850 crore in the city.
But, he was defeated in the city next RCC elections on 15 June 2013. Critics blame inaction of some Awami League activists, propaganda of Hefazat-e-Islam, buying BNP candidate's vote in Jamaat money and not getting the confidence of women voters; for his defeat.
So, Liton has been running in every ward to convince the voters. He said if he is elected, he will bring the developmental flow back. On the other hand, city BNP President Bulbul is campaigning seeking another chance.
Alfaz Kabir, resident of Thorakhadia Mahalla of the city, said the two candidates of the two parties were Mayor for the previous two terms. Considering what each has done for Rajshahi, he will cast vote. In this case, the party or the symbol is not a big thing to him.
Sumon Sheikh, a resident of Kadirganj, said who cannot kill mosquitoes cannot be a mayor also. The first thing to do is to talk about citizen services. He knows well who can secure public facilities.
City Awami League president and nominated Mayor candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said that the development works that he had left after his defeat in Mayor's election, are now in the path of destruction. “My long days of hope to build an industrial town in Rajshahi, I have more plans around Rajshahi. The people of the city know them. So they will give me the opportunity voting for me in this election.”
BNP-backed candidate Mohammad Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul said, "I have not been able to continue my duties as a mayor for a long time at a stretch. Voters know that. So, they will give me another chance. We have already set out the strategy that needs to fight the election.”
In addition to the two candidates of Awami League and BNP, four more candidates will contest for Mayor post in RCC election. They are - Wasiur Rahman Dolon (Jatiya Party), Habibur Rahman (Bangladesh Jatiya Party), Shafiqul Islam (Islami Andolan Bangladesh) and Murad Morshed (independent candidate supported by Ganasanghati Andolan).
The Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer of the city election Syed Amirul Islam said all kinds of preparation has been taken for free, fair and credible election. Voting will be very nicely. A total of 3,18,138 voters in 30 wards in the city will cast their vote in 138 polling stations.
