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Threat, blame, money factors surface in Barisal

Ramb Hasnet Suman and RAFIQUL ISLAM, from Barisal
Threats, accusations and counteraccusations, allegations of distributing money to buy votes, efforts to control slum dwellers and rumours heated up the atmosphere in Barisal city yesterday ahead of today's polls to the city corporation.
Voters complained that the government's initiatives to bring honest and competent candidates have failed as most candidates are the oldfaces with numerous allegations against them and have little image.
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'The Election Commission did not take any action against those who violated electoral rules, encouraging corrupt, incompetent and dishonest aspirants to go ahead," Prof Syed Aminul Haque, president of Shujan district unit, told! ne Daily Star.
A cultural activist said a few identified corrupt are contesting the polls while a teacher of Barisal Islam! College said, "There are no notable changes in this election."
A student of BM College who has become a voter this year said no signifi -cant changes would take placb except that people would cast their votes in a peaceful environment as criminals are on the run.
But the candidates are either denying the allegations against them or reiterating that there would be no repetition ofthe past mistakes.
Incumbent Ward Commissioner and a candidate for ward-9 councillorship Syed Jamal I lossain Noman said, "We made a few mistakes in the past but I can assure that those mistakes would not be repeated in future."
Asked about the cases filed against him on cliargcs like land -grabbing and extortion, ward-12 Commissioner and councillor candidate KM Shahidullah said, "The allegations are false." USEOFMONEY,
ATTACKS, THREATS
Mayoral candidate and BNP leader Ebayedul Haque Qian alleged that his opponents were trying to buy voters. "District BNP General Secretary Nazrul Islam Rajan and his aides went to Amanatgan j area and offered money to my activists. They also threatened my supporters," Chan claimed to The DaifyStar.
Rajan, a close aide of another may-oral candidate Ahsan Habib Kamal who was expelled from BNR outright rejected the allegation, saying he did not visit Amanatganj area "Chan is fearing defeat in the poll," he said.
Mayoral candidate Enayet Pir Khan filed a general diary against competitor Sharfuddin Shantu.
Meanwhile, conflicts among a few councillor candidates created tension in different areas in the city as Gyanendro Halder, an activist of ward-26 councillor candidate Farid Uddin, was beaten up by a group of miscreants on Saturday night
"Relatives of councillor candidate Lina Kabir attacked me as I refused to vote for her," Gyanendro said. Fie was later admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital
Admitting the incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hayatul Islam said police are investigating the matter.
Kamrunnahar Sweety a councillor candidate for ward-15, filed a general diary with Kotowali police, alleging that a few miscreants hijacked her ornaments and asked her to refrain from the electoral race.
Law enforcers meanwhile recovered a number of national identity 'birds from a7)CTsorf’fiambdDulal in Shikderparaarea.’
Assistant Commissioner Hayatul Islam said they received about 15 co,mplaints against a few councillor candidates for distributing money to buy votes but found most allegations false.
A competition among the mayoral candidates to buy votes of about 20,000slum dwellers in the city corporation area was also reported.
Ten candidates are contesting for the Barisal mayoral seat while 145 for councillorship in 30 wards and another 39 for 10 reserved ward councillorship. Some 1,79,000 voters will casttheirvotesat91 centres.