Hasnat Abdullah, the 10-party alliance candidate for Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) and chief organiser (south) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), on Friday said the people would reject corrupt candidates through the ballot.
Speaking at several street rallies during door-to-door campaigning on the second day of electioneering, Hasnat said the masses of Debidwar, expatriates, youths and women are his main strength. “Many may belong to other parties, but they will vote for me in secret,” he added.
He said voters would exercise their franchise freely this time. “There will be no coercion or strong-arming. Voting is an expression of choice and goodwill, there is no room for fear or pressure,” he said.
Hasnat alleged that political parties which nominated loan defaulters, bank looters and corrupt individuals have already been identified by the public, who will reject them through votes.
Criticising VIP culture in politics, he said creating artificial barriers distances leaders from the people. “We do not want big-chair, small-chair politics. Politics remains people-friendly only when leaders stay connected with ordinary citizens,” he said.
Highlighting the impact of corruption, Hasnat said, “If corruption is not resisted today, people will have to pay bribes even to receive basic services. The country must be freed from this situation.” He stressed that politics should never be treated as an ‘investment’ to recover profits.
He said he joined politics to serve people with integrity and has never been involved in extortion, tender manipulation or corruption. Over the past one and a half years, neither he nor his supporters have collected illegal donations or engaged in market or transport grabbing, he claimed.
During the campaign, Hasnat sought votes for the Shapla symbol, pledging to build a society free from drugs, corruption and extortion.
On Friday, Hasnat addressed several courtyard meetings at Vhinglabari in Debidwar, Biharmandal in Mohanpur Union, the Chotna High School field and Shantir Road. He also inaugurated his election office at Bagmara Bazar in Barkamta Union. Leaders of the 10-party alliance, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Cumilla North district General Secretary and former upazila vice-chairman Saiful Islam Shahid, were present at the programmes.