BARISHAL, Jan 30: With the 13th national parliamentary election drawing near, campaigning in Barishal and surrounding areas has intensified.
Candidates, their supporters, and party workers are actively traversing constituencies day and night. Campaigning with loudspeakers continues from 2 pm to 8 pm in compliance with election rules, while candidates promise development for their constituencies and the wider Barishal region if elected.
Islamic movement candidate Mufti Fayzul Karim's pledge at a public meeting in Bakerganj-"Vote for me on the 12th, and from the 13th, you can sleep with doors unlocked"-has attracted widespread attention. He is contesting both Barishal-5 and Barishal-6 seats. Other candidates are campaigning vigorously, including a large number of female workers going door to door despite the cold winter.
However, out of 124 candidates across 21 constituencies in Barishal, over 50 have conducted little or no visible campaigning, and some remain unseen by voters. Among the main contestants are BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) candidates. Two BNP rebels including Hasan Mamun of Galachipa have emerged as challenges for party allies, while another BNP rebel, Engineer Abdus Sobahan, campaigns under the slogan: "Salam Tareq Zia, vote for the Football symbol." Minor clashes have already occurred between Sobahan's supporters and local BNP activists.
To ensure safe, peaceful, and participatory elections, around 55,000 polling staff and nearly 50,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed. This includes 10,000 police officers and 37,000 Ansar and VDP members across 2,836 polling centres, with each centre staffed by 3-4 armed police and 13 Ansar-VDP members, including four women. Armed forces, BGB, RAB, and patrol teams are also on duty, ready to respond to any situation under the guidance of the District Commissioner and Returning Officers.
Barishal's Divisional Commissioner and Range DIG confirmed that so far, elections in all 21 constituencies and 42 upazilas are proceeding peacefully. All 124 candidates' security has been ensured, with three armed police assigned to each candidate.
