BNP 20 rebels stay in mayoral race

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party could not convince the rebels and 20 rebels continued the mayoral race as the deadline for withdrawal of candidature expired on Sunday for the first-ever partisan elections to 234 municipal councils slated for December 30.
BNP joint secretary general Mohammad Shahjahan said that told New Age on Sunday evening that about 20 rebel BNP mayoral candidates did not withdraw their candidature.
He said that 41 BNP leaders had filed nomination papers for mayoral positions defying the party.
Shahjahan said that the party would try to keep the 20 rebels off the race convincing them to support the party-nominated candidate concerned.
He said that organisational actions would be taken as per recommendations to be made by the local units if the rebels did not support the party candidates.
Replying to a query, he said that he did not know how many leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, a major partner of the BNP-led alliance, finally remained in the race as independent candidates, as Jamaat did not communicate with BNP leaders in this regard.
Jamaat was not allowed to contest the poll following an order of the High Court that declared void its registration with the Election Commission.
Alliance sources said that Jamaat fielded about 47 mayoral candidates.
Shahjahan said the areas where the BNP rebels did not withdraw candidatures included Fulbari and Bhaluka in Mymensingh, Manohardi in Narsigndi, Hossainpur in Kishoreganj, Tarabo in Narayanganj, Arani and Naohata in Rajshahi.
He said that candidatures of seven of the 14 BNP mayoral candidates, whose nomination papers had earlier been cancelled, were finally validated through legal battles.
He said that 230 candidates from BNP had submitted nomination papers while two candidates could not submit their nomination papers.
Alliance partner Jatiya Party faction nominated Mohiuddin Banap to contest mayoral polls with BNP’s election symbol at Bheramara in Kushtia.
Alliance partner Liberal Democratic Party nominated mayoral candidate for the rest one municipality. The LDP candidate would contest the polls with its election symbol umbrella.