Women candidates run hectic campaign:Daily Sun

Councillor candidates for the reserved women seats in Dhaka city corporations are carrying out hectic election campaigns to woo voters. The aspirants for 31 reserved seats are trying to go to every voter in their respective wards to get votes. Ahead of the 28 April elections, women candidates are going door to door and pledging to ensure women rights, welfare of destitute women, women empower, edu

cation and overall development. Sources in the Election Commission said 89 female candidates are contesting the women reserved seats in 12 wards in Dhaka North City Corporation. A total of 95 female candidates are contesting for 19 wards in Dhaka South City Corporation. Visiting several wards of both city corporations, it is learnt that the reserved women candidates are campaigning to woo female voters as they think only women can understand the matters of women. Talking to daily sun, several reserved women candidates said women are being subjected to oppression, stalking and sexual harassment everywhere. They said the concerted effort will be given to address women issues. Social awareness will be created in this regard, they said. Fazilatunnessa Lucky, a councillor candidate for wards 21, 22 and 23 under Dhaka North City Corporation, said though all candidates pledged to work for women, but the promises hang in the balance. “Addressing civic problems, I will work for the welfare of women,” she added. Another councillor candidate, Fatema Akhter Dolly, said, “I will take short-term, midterm and long-term plans for women development.” Meanwhile, some female candidates expressed their unhappiness over the allotment of symbols for councillor aspirants for the reserved seats. They alleged only household and funny symbols were allotted to women candidates. It is learnt that the EC has kept 10 symbols for candidates for the reserved seats.