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The city that did not sleep

Rafiq Hasan and Suameem Mahmud, Ctg
As soon as the news of suspension of the announcement of election results spread in the port city at around 10:00 last night, thousands of people laid a siege to the returning officer's (RO) temporary office housed in the Gymnasium Complex of MA Aziz Stadium.
The entire area turned into a sea of humanity immediately as thousands more joined the gathering from far and wide of lire city in small processions and shouted slogans in favour of mayoral aspirant ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
They also took a vow to resist any attempt to manipulate die election results.
Mohiuddin, who was leading in die race for coveted mayor's office, addressed the people and warned of dire consequences if ruling coalition-backed candidate Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin snatched victory from through a behind-the-scenes conspiracy.
Frontline opposition Awami League leaders, present in the city to canvass for Mohiuddin and monitor the high-profile polls, also joined the gathering and threatened to launch a movement to bring down the government if the election results were manipulated.
"I came here because I heard dial the government officials were not declaring the election results though Mohiuddin was leading by over two lakh votes," said Ismail Hossain, an elderly citizen of city's Noor Ahmed Road, near Kazir Dewry. He said it would be very unfair If Mohiuddin's victory is snatched away by the ruling alliance candidate through unfair means.
People’s fury, however, subsided as the RO’s office resumed declaring the election results after one and half an hours, at about 11:30pm.
When the election officials were declaring results of different centres slowly one by one, tens of thousands were demonstrating outside the RO’s office.
Still, several lakh enthusiastic people waited in the area until late night and stood guard around the RO’s office. "Normally, I close my shop at 10.30pm but tonight I am yet to down the shutters as people are still buying goods," said Shahjahan, a shopkeeper at Kazir Dewry at 1:30am today.
like him, many shopkeepers in the area also kept their shops open until early this morning, 'fhe markets, hotels, restaurants, flower corners, tea stalls and other private establishments in areas close to the RO’s office also did not turned off the light.
Thousands of people in the residential areas also spent a sleepless night, silting before TV sets to watch the latest election bulletins by private channels.
The unprecedented gathering kept the government election office under siege until 2:30 this morning. The police and security personnel cordoned off the house and election office of Mir Nasir in nearby Kazir Dewry area.
People also entered the nearby Chittagong Circuit House complex and chanted slogans in favour of Mohiuddin’s election symbol hurricane. "Never before in my life have I seen such enthusiasm among the people," said Bacchu Mia, a rickshaw-puller.
'fhe sheer number of people out on the streets to throw their weight behind Mohiuddin took outsiders and election observers alike by surprise.
Until 2:00am, small processions were marching down the streets and senior leaders of the Nagorik Committee were addressing spontaneous rallies, urging the people not to return home without final results.