By IANS,
Dhaka : Enforcement of the Election Commission’s code made for a cleaner poll campaign in Bangladesh’s cities, as the Awami League (AL) contributed to it by going digital.
AL party chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina will be on the Internet and other hi-tech means to reach out to the voters in the short time left in the campaign for the December 29 parliamentary polls.
She would address fewer rallies for security reasons and reach out through video conferences, party leaders told New Age newspaper.
This would be in keeping with the party’s poll manifesto of ushering in a `digital Bangladesh by 2021′.
For the residents of the national capital used to poll-eve chaos and excitement, the new code means no graffiti and posters on the city walls and no decorated campaign gate on roads that caused traffic jams and accidents.
Although electioneering officially started Friday with the lifting of restrictions on processions and rallies, the festive election atmosphere the city is used to, was yet to be discernible.
Candidates of the major electoral alliances have begun 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, The Daily Star said Sunday.
A total of 144 candidates are contesting in these 15 constituencies. Thanks to de-limitation of constituencies, the number has shot up from a mere eight.
Use of loudspeakers is prohibited before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m. this year, which is welcomed by the city residents as a relief from the usual electoral noise pollution.
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.