Dhaka, Oct 25—The big debate ahead of the Narayanganj City Corporation elections ended with all the six candidates vowing to live up to the promise made to the voters.
The aspirants grappled to be heard over each other and sway votes in the one-off, first-ever televised debate arranged by the Election Commission. It was broadcast live from an open stage of Narayanganj Club by state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar from around 8:30 to 10:00pm Tuesday.
bdnews24.com also live-streamed the event from 116-year old club to spotlight the sharpening contours of the race to help the constituency make an informed decision. The video of the event will be available on the bdnews24.com website for a few days.
Election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain attended the debate, which was moderated by bdnews24.com editor-in-chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi.
Sakhawat expressed his happiness with the debate. "It has been a good programme," he told bdnews24.com.
As voters were concerned about the lofty promises candidates usually make before elections, but rarely follow them up with actions once elected, all six candidates replied to keep their pre-election pledges.
Awami League-backed aspirant Shamim Osman rattled of his successes as a member of parliament from Narayanganj-1 during Awami League's 1996 to 2001 tenure.
Awami League leader Selina Hayat Ivy said she fulfilled promises she made in the previous election. "I don't make any promise that I cannot keep," Ivy, the former municipal mayor, added.
When a voter asked BNP-backed candidate Taimur Alam Khandaker how he will be able to serve the city with so many corruption charges against him, the former BRTC chief said prime minister Sheikh Hasina has 13 graft cases against her.
"I have fewer case than she has…," he said before the moderator Toufique Imroze Khalidi stepped in to stop him saying he (Taimur) was speaking about people not present there.
According to Taimur's affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, he faces 11 criminal cases.
Before the start, Sakhawat had explained why the EC had organised the debate. "The event is meant to connect the two sides —why the candidates want to lead, what plans they have for the electorate, what the voters themselves want."
A 150-strong select audience drawn from professionals, students, businesspeople and local civil society leaders—all representing the electorate of Narayanganj— fired some stinging questions at the aspirants.
A businessman asked whether any park would be set up in Narayanganj.
Shamim felt 'sad' that there is no children's park in Narayanganj. "I want to set up a park for not only children but also for women," the former Narayanganj-1 MP said.
His party rival Selina Hayat Ivy was categorical. "Narayanganj municipality's PPP project is scheduled to start in a year. A green park and two children's park will be set up."
The war of words between Ivy and Shamim began in earnest , with Ivy firing the first salvo at her 'elder brother', saying he puts the party behind everything else.
The people are behind me, the former Narayanganj municipality Mayor said during the primetime Election Commission debate.
Shamim, on his part, said it is difficult to work without party support. "BNP did it first. We did it in reciprocation."
Ivy replied: "Local government polls are non-partisan, I was the mayor of Narayanganj municipality. Elder brother' (Shamim) wanted party backing…I have the people's backing."
Shamim argued Ivy also displayed photos of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and party president Sheikh Hasina in posters, a claim that Ivy rejected.
"No, I am not using their photos," she said.
EVMs
The audience witnessed lively debate about the much-talked about issue of using Electronic Voting Machine on a limited scale in the Oct 30 vote, when a student put forward the question.
A short documentary was shown on the use of EVMs before taking replies from the candidates.
BNP-backed Taimur Alam Khandaker said he was served with an Election Commission notice while protesting the use of EVMs. And he again opposed the use of the machines suggesting that those can help rig the polls.
Shamim was all for the use of the machine while Ivy solicited to introduce it in three wards instead of nine and independent candidate Atiqul Islam Jibon proposed to introduce it in only one ward. The other two also backed the EVMs.
At the start of the debate, Narayanganj City mayor hopefuls spelled out their plans for the new city before the voters.
Jibon was the first and he said he is running in the Corporation (NCC) election to abide by his mother's order to serve the Narayanganj people.
Taimur urged people to try him out, while Atikur Rahman Nannu Munshi promised to fulfil people's expectations.
Former Awami League MP Shamim said he dreams of turning Narayanganj into the best city corporation while Awami League leader Ivy says she wants to serve people and present a clean city.
EC secretary Mohammad Sadique, local civil society members, guests and officials are also present at the debate.
From;www.bdnews24.com
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