DHAKA: A public opinion survey run by independent research body RDC shows that 58% percent voters support Awami League nominated candidate for Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election while the percentages are 44 and 33 in Barisal and Sylhet cities respectively.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ICT Adviser also her son Sajeeb Wazed posted a long status on his verified Facebook page disclosing the survey results Sunday (July 29).
“My team commissioned three public opinion surveys for the imminent Barisal, Rajshai and Sylhet city corporation elections,” he wrote.
The surveys were conducted throughout this month, July 2018 by an independent research organization, Research Development Center (RDC), he added.
Following are the survey results as Sazeeb Wazed stated:
Barisal
Serniabat Sadik Abdullah (AL) - 44.0%
Mujibur Rahman Sarowar (BNP) – 13.1%
Other candidates - 0.8%
Undecided – 23.5%
Refused to answer – 15.9%
The sample size of this survey was 1,241 registered voters.
Rajshahi
Khairuzzaman Liton (AL) - 58.0%
Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul (BNP) – 16.4%
Other candidates - 0.9%
Undecided – 12.3%
Refused to anwer 9.6%
The sample size of this survey was 1,294 registered voters.
Sylhet
Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran (AL) – 33.0%
Ariful Haque Chowdhury (BNP) - 28.1%
Other candidates – 1.3%
Undecided – 23.0%
Refused to answer – 12.6%
The sample size of this survey was 1,196 registered voters, said the Facebook post.
It said about the methods applied in conducting the survey as mentioned below:
Results were weighted for gender based on the composition of the voter list for the City Corporations and age distribution for Barisal, Rajshahi and Sylhet Cities from the 2011 Census. Sample was drawn from the addresses registered with the Election Commission through the voter ID registration. Persons included were only individuals who confirmed that they were on the voter list of the City Corporations. The margin of error is approximately +/- 2.5%.
Sazeeb Wazed said he has been conducting opinion polls with RDC for the past five years.
“I have found their methods and results to be the most accurate,” he said.
He stated firm expectancy that AL nominated candidates would win the race in two cities and has to compete in another:
“However, I can quite confidently say that in Barisal and Rajshahi Awami League will win by a landslide. In Sylhet we are slightly ahead, but it is too close to call.”
“The BNP keeps making all sorts of complaints, but the fact is that it has lost all popularity. The Awami League on the other hand, has gained more and more popularity over the years. The BNP is no longer an electoral threat to the Awami League,” Sazeeb Wazed added.
“I would, however, urge my party members, law enforcement and electoral officers to be vigilant for BNP attempts to seize polling centers and stuff ballots in an attempt to blame the Awami League”
“You have all heard recorded phone conversations of BNP leaders plotting exactly this in the Gazipur elections. As their candidates talk to voters during the campaign they realize they have no chance of winning, so they are actively attempting to frame the Awami League in an attempt to make these elections controversial,” he said further.
However, polls to RCC, BCC and SCC will be held on July 30.
Meanwhile, BGB members have deployed in the cities to ensure the normalcy of law & order situations.
BDST: 1757 HRS, JUL 29, 2018
SI/SMS
