The election of Kushtia Municipality is on card; will be held on tomorrow (Saturday). Meanwhile all contestants have closed their campaign had been running about the month. Kushtia municipality has a big wing tradition that was formed in 1839. The size of this municipality, which holds first class category, is now much larger. The total number of voters in all 21 wards is 1 lakh 46 thousand 4 hundred 23 people.

Anwar Ali, a veteran politician of Bangladesh Awami League also the incumbent mayor of the municipality is the main contestant in the election. His name seems to be stuck as the mayor of Kushtia municipality. He has been the mayor and chairman here for 26 years. He was elected 4 times.

Besides, Anwar Ali has been holding the helm of Awami League in Kushtia for a long time. He was the general secretary of the district Awami League for 10 years from 1986.

He has also decorated various posts in the Awami League. Anwar Ali has expressed his full optimism about the victory. He said, Kushtia municipality has been given a clean and aesthetic look. There is still some work to be done, he assured the voters that he will complete it if elected this time.

District BNP vice president Bashirul Alam Chand has become the candidate against this influential leader of Awami League. This is the first time he has contested on such a big platform. Earlier, Bashirul Alam was elected chairman of Majampur Union adjacent to Kushtia municipality four times. That union was dissolved and is now associated with Kushtia Municipality.

According to the district election office, three candidates are contesting for the post of mayor, 97 for the post of councilor and 34 for the post of reserved women councilor.

Councilor candidates in three wards have won unopposed. Except for a couple of unpleasant incidents among the councilor candidates, the campaign is going on here in a peaceful and festive atmosphere. All in all, Kushtia has become a campaign city.

The ruling Awami League nominated candidate Anwar Ali who is the No. 1 member of the Kushtia district unit Awami League, has held meetings in different wards every day. He has mostly gone to the door to door. The 78-year-old veteran leader is running like a young man. As there is no dispute in the district Awami League at present, all level of the leaders are also working for him. Every ward has its own electoral office.

BNP candidate Bashirul Alam Chand is the first to fight on a big platform like a municipality. However, Chand, an always smiling leader is quite popular. District BNP leaders are also taking part in the election campaign on his behalf.

Chand said, Anwar Bhai (AL candidate Anwar Ali) is very experienced in politics.

However, I too have been in politics for 40 years. The BNP's vote has increased as the municipality has expanded. So far there is a fair environment.

Another candidate for mayor is the leader of the Islami Andolon Bangladesh Abdullah Akhand. He is fighting with the symbol of Hatpakha. His election posters are all over the city.