The BNP is worried about fielding a suitable mayoral candidate for the Dhaka North City Corporation elections after cancellation of nomination papers of Abdul Awal Mintoo, an adviser to party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
In the Dhaka South City Corporation elections, the party is going to support Mirza Abbas as the mayoral candidate, party high-ups said.
The BNP, however, hope that nomination paper of Mintoo will be proved valid through appeal. The Election Commission cancelled his nomination on Wednesday as one of his signatory supporters was not a voter of the DNCC area.
Tabith Awal, son of Mintoo, however, received EC approval as a valid mayor candidate for DNCC polls. His candidature was at the behest of the BNP chairperson, keeping probability of blocking Mintoo in mind.
Bikalpa Dhara joint secretary general Mahi B Chowdhury is also participating in the DNCC polls as a mayoral candidate. His father AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury is former secretary general of BNP and now the president of Bikalpa Dhara. A section of BNP is thinking of supporting Mahi if the candidature of Mintoo gets cancelled at the last moment.
However, no official discussion took place to this end as of yet.
BNP sources said if the candidature of Mintoo gets cancelled, his son Tabith Awaal will get the support of the party. However, their focus is on Mintoo till now.
One of BNP standing committee member told Prothom Alo that they are expecting that the candidature of Mintoo will be considered, if not, then his son should get the backing of the party.
On the other hand, there are three candidates from BNP in the DSCC polls, They are – standing comittee member Mirza Abbas, financial secretary M A Salam and international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon.
Sources said the party is sure to support Mirza Abaas in DSCC. However, there is some old conflict between city convener Mirza Abbas and former city convener Sadek Hossain Khoka. Abbas is suspecting that Khoka is supporting Salam in the mayoral race as Salam’s paper work has been handled by one of the closest associates of Khoka.
Some members of the ‘Shoto Nagarik’ also recommended Salam’s name to the BNP chairperson.
Source: Prothom Alo
