Not worried about Khaleda’s campaign: Khokon

Ruling Awami League-endorsed Dhaka South mayor candidate Sayeed Khokon says he does not think BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s campaign for her party-supported candidates will have any impact on the ensuing polls.

He believes the former prime minister has “lost her acceptability” after the death of over 120 people during the BNP’s agitation since January this year.

“I’m not worried at all about Khaleda Zia campaigning for her candidates,” Khokon told a rally at Old Dhaka on Sunday.

“My relation with the people of Dhaka is over half a century old,” he said. “The people are with me.”

BNP chief Khaleda, who boycotted the 2014 general elections, endorsed candidates for the Apr 28 polls to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations.

She formally introduced Mirza Abbas and Tabith Awal as the BNP-endorsed mayor candidates for Dhaka on Apr 14.

On Saturday, she campaigned from Awal at Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali and Badda.

The Election code prevents Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad from campaigning. But Khaleda suffers no such limitation.

Khokon said Khaleda had “ordered the killing of innocent people” only a few days ago.

“The people of Dhaka are peace-loving. They won’t accept anyone who ordered the killings,” he said.

Khaleda stayed at her Gulshan office for three months since January after police prevented her from leaving it.

She announced an indefinite transport blockade on Jan 5 that left over 120 people dead and hundreds of others injured, mostly in arson and fire-bombings.

Khokon, son of former mayor Mohammad Hanif, said BNP’s Abbas, his main rival in the polls, did not do anything for the people’s welfare when he was a minister.

“Dhaka saw large-scale development during my father’s term. I uphold his philosophy as his successor,” he said. “Please give me a chance as a test case [to work for you].”