BNP will soon declare whether it will field candidates in the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls, a senior leader has said.
“BNP has not decided on the matter yet. We are discussing whether or not to go to the polls,” Mahbubur Rahman, member of the National Standing Committee, the party’s highest policy-making body, said on Friday.
“The party will soon take a final decision and inform the media.”
Mahbubur Rahman said this after meeting the family of ‘missing’ BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed at their Gulshan residence.
Earlier, the party had boycotted the 10 national election held in 2014 expressing its lack of faith in the fairness of the electoral machinery.
Since Jan 5, BNP has been carrying on a violent transport blockade and enforcing sporadic shutdowns, demanding a snap poll under a neutral administration.
He admitted there two views at the grassroots regarding participation in the city polls.
“One side says there is massive support for the party, and the government should not be allowed a free run in this election.
“The other maintains it would be difficult to take part with most aspirants implicated in false cases. Many leaders and activists are in prison, making it difficult to take part in the elections under the circumstances.”
The Election Commission declared the schedules for the Dhaka North, South and Chittagong city corporation polls on Wednesday.
The voting will be held on Apr 28. Aspirants will have to file their nominations by Mar 28.The nomination papers will be scrutinised on Apr 1 and 2, and candidates will have till Apr 9 to withdraw their papers.
It has been eight years since the tenure of the Dhaka City Corporation mayor and councillors had ended.
The city corporation has been split into two to Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation in view of the city’s expansion.
Meanwhile, the tenure for the Chittagong City Corporation ends in July.
Source: Bd news24