Chittagong: Election symbols were distributed Wednesday among eight mayoral candidates contesting the 17 June Chittagong City Corporation polls, giving them the formal go for electioneering on a full scale.

Awami League candidate under the banner of Nagorik Committee ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury got ‘ship’ as poll symbol while BNP-fielded Chattagram Unnayan Andolon candidate Mohammad Manzur Alam Manzu is to run with ‘pineapple’.

Among the rest in the race, Solaiman Alam Sheth of Jatiya Party (Ershad) got ‘Television’, Rafiqul Islam of Islamic Andolone ‘Locker’ while independent candidates Jane Alam ‘Inkpot-pen’, Ibrahim ‘Motorcycle’, Syed Sajjad Zoha ‘Spectacles’ and Professor Mofazzal Hossain Bhuiyan ‘Helicopter’ as symbols for the CCC polls.

Returning officer Jasmine Tuli gave away the poll symbols to the candidates at the Muslim Hall in the port city from morning till 4.30pm.

Later, symbols among reserved-seat Ward Councilors and Ward Councilors were also allocated.  

After allocation, Tuli handed over the pictures of symbols and related documents to the candidates.

Of the mayoral candidates, ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury got his poll symbol contested. Manzur had to with another mayoral candidate, Mofazzal Hossain Bhuiyan, for the pineapple. Sarower Alam on behalf of his father Manjur Alam received the symbol.

Later, Mohiuddin told reporters that he was happy as he got the symbol he wanted. “We’ll campaign abiding by the poll code,” he said.  

For the 41 posts of general ward councilor 249 candidates would fight and another 59 for 14 reserved-seat councilor posts for women.

According to the election code, the candidates with respective symbols can kickstart their campaign today (Wednesday) and continue till 15 June midningt.

BDST 1530 hrs June 2, 2010
RDG/RS/SMS/MUA