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Dhaka sees delectably different polls race

Wasim Bin Habib and Naimul Alam Nobin
Residents of the capital are witnessing significant changes in this year s election campaign with no graffiti and poster on city walls and no decorated campaign gate on roads, thanks to the new electoral code of conduct.
Although electioneering officially started on Friday with the lifting of restrictions on processions and rallies, the festive election atmosphere the city is used to, is yet to be discernible.
Candidates of the major electoral alliances yesterday brought out processions, held rallies and hung posters from ropes at different spots. They also started going from door to door seeking votes in the 15 constituencies of the city.
A total of 144 candidates are contesting in
the 15 constituencies this year. In the last parliamentary election, the number of constituencies in the city was eight.
Use of loudspeakers is prohibited before 2:00pm and after 8:00pm this year, which is welcomed by the city residents as a relief from the usual electoral noise pollution.
Candidates also started setting up their election offices in respective constituencies, although this year only one election office is allowed in a ward per candidate. Many of those are however yet to be set.
According to the new electoral code of conduct the candidates are also not allowed to bring out campaign motorcades or any other vehicular procession for the purpose.
Awami League (AL) started its formal campaign with the announcement of its election
SEE PAGE 15 COL 6 manifesto by its chief Sheikh Hasina on Friday, while BNP started its campaign with its Chairperson Khaleda Zia offering prayers and addressing rallies in different places in Sylhet the same day.
City residents expressed their satisfaction with the new electoral code of conduct as the candidates are not allowed to draw graffiti or to paste posters on walls, and are not allowed to bring out processions blocking traffic.
Mahamuda Begum, a resident of Nikunja area, told the Daily Star that she welcomes the new anti-graffiti and antiposterlaw.
"The nicest thing this year is that the candidates are not allowed to hold rallies or bring out processions blocking movement of the people, which used to be a constant irritant during previous elections," she said.
"Although a festive election environment is yet to appear this year, I think it will get there within a few days as the campaign gets into high gear," Mahmuda added.
Khaleda Zia addressed several street rallies yesterday in Mohammadpur, Adabar, Mirpur, Uttara, Khilkhet and Banani areas in the city seeking votes for BNP-led four-party alliance nominees.
Four-party nominee in Dhaka-8, former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel, carried out mass campaign in Shahjahanpur area, while AL-led grand electoral alliance nominee in the constituency Rashed Khan Menon ofWorkers Party, campaigned door to door in Segun Bagicha area.
Four-party nominee in Dhaka-18, Azizul Bari Helal who is also the incumbent JCD president, campaigned for vote in Khilkhet area.
Grand alliance nominee in Dhaka-9, Saber Hossain Chowdhury of AL campaigned in Sipahibagh and Goran areas.
Awami Jubo League chairman also grand alliance nominee in Dhaka-13, Zahangir Kabir Nanak. campaigned door to door in Adabar.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) nominees in Dhaka-15 and Dhaka-13, Dr Ahammad Sazdul Haque Rubel and Khan Ahsan Habib Lablu respectively held street rallies in Kachukhet and Mohammadpur.
Grand alliance nominee in Dhaka-18 Advocate Sahara Khatun campaigned in different sectors of Uttara and in Uttarkhan area, while the alliance's young nominee in Dhaka-12, Fazle Noor Ta posh, campaigned door to door in Elephant Road area, as his family members and supporters fanned out through Kalabagan and Dhanmondi areas.