CHITTAGONG: About 10,000 members of the Electoral College today [Dec 19] listened to the four Presidential candidates in Chittagong at the first of the four projection meetings in East Pakistan. Mr Justice M.R. Rehman of the East Pakistan High Court and member of the Election Commission presided over the meeting in Niaz Stadium. While the projection meeting was being held, a large crowd gathered outside the Stadium and shouted slogans.

President Ayub was lustily cheered as he arrived to address the meeting. With the President came his election agent, the Law Minister, Mr Khursheed Ahmed. He was the second candidate to address the meeting. Commotion was created in the morning session when some opposition members disagreed with the remarks of President Ayub Khan and cross-talk started between the members and angry words were exchanged.

Miss Jinnah was loudly cheered by her supporters on her arrival at the meeting. A large crowd was also present outside the stadium to welcome her. Some supporters of Mr Fazlul Quader Chowdhury started raising slogans in his favour. Chittagong is the ancestral home and the constituency of Mr Fazlul Quader Chowdhury.

Published in Dawn December 20th , 2014