DIPANKAR ROY and MD ABBAS

Voters have been showing more interest towards councillor candidates rather than mayoral ones in the upcoming Khulna City polls, scheduled for June 12.

They said no strong candidate is running the mayoral race against the Awami League candidate.

Meanwhile, there is considerable enthusiasm among voters for councillor candidates. As no party, including the ruling Awami League, is endorsing councillor candidates, they are tirelessly campaigning to win over voters.

In most wards, BNP leaders have chosen not to participate in the councillor elections. Eight BNP members who defied the party’s decision and are contesting for councillor positions, have been expelled from the party.

In 26 out of the city’s 31 general wards, several Awami League leaders are competing for councillor positions. Similarly, in all 10 wards reserved for women, multiple party leaders are vying for these positions.

In the current election, AL has a single candidate in only five out of the 31 general wards of the city corporation. These candidates include SM Khurshid Ahmed Tona in ward 13, ZA Mahmood Don in ward 24, Ali Akbar Tipu in ward 25, Golam Maula Shanu in ward 26, and Rafiuddin Ahmed Rafi, who is the brother of the current army chief.

Additionally, two AL supporters from ward 13 and ward 27 have been elected unopposed as councillors.

Md Babul Rana, general secretary of the AL city unit, said the party has extended support to the candidate from ward 27, while the remaining wards are open.

Analysing the data, it was found that four out of the five candidates in ward 3 are AL supporters.

Incumbent councillor Abdus Salam, AL ward general secretary Maksud Hasan Piku, Sramik League leader Abzal Jamaddar, and city unit Jubo League member Kazi Ibrahim Marshall are all councillor candidates. Similar scenarios are seen in most of the wards.

Mahbub Kaiser, former joint secretary of the Khulna City unit BNP and councillor candidate for ward 22, expressed that voters are eager to vote for them. “Voters will not consider party affiliation when voting for councillors. They will choose candidates based on their previous records and credentials.”