Tabith was BNP’s candidate in the 2015 mayor race as well BNP has finalized Tabith Mohammed Awal, the same candidate it backed for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor post in 2015, as its nominee for the by-polls.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday night, confirmed a Standing Committee member.
However, for the sake of formalities BNP will sell nomination forms among people willing to contest the upcoming by-polls to the DNCC.
The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant with the death of Annisul Huq on November 30 last year.
Tabith, the son of BNP leader and business tycoon Abdul Awal Mintoo, had an unsuccessful run against the late mayor in 2015, losing by almost 135,000 votes.
His father’s candidacy fell through after the Election Commission decided he had picked an unqualified voter to propose his candidacy.
Tabith grew up in Dhaka’s Gulshan and went to George Washington University in the US. He works in his father’s business.
The ruling Awami League is yet to announce its candidate, but business leader Atiqul Islam is being thought of as the front runner.
BNP chief Khaleda Zia began the meeting with her party’s highest policymaking body around 9:40pm on Saturday.
She also had a meeting with the top leaders of the 20-party alliance, which her party leads, last week over the issue.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.
