Three mayoral candidates have quit the race in the Dhaka North and South City Corporations polls scheduled to be held on April 28.
They are– BNP leader Abdus Salam, former Awami League lawmaker and filmstar Sarah Begum Kabari, and Bobby Hajjaj, former special adviser to Jatiya Party chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Returning Officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed told the Dhaka Tribune: “BNP leader Abdus Salam has withdrawn his candidacy from the poll around 4:15pm Thursday.”
However, he could not provide further information regarding the matter.
Abdus Salam (L), Sarah Begum Kabari (M), and Bobby Hajjaj
While withdrawing her candidacy, Kabari told the Dhaka Tribune: “I am quitting the mayoral race as the prime minister and the senior leaders of Awami League asked me to withdraw my candidacy.”
Besides, Jubi Musa, the younger brother of Bobby Hajjaj, on behalf of the politician, withdrew his candidacy from the office of Dhaka North Returning Officer around 4pm Thursday.
Asked about the reason behind the withdrawal, Jubi told the Dhaka Tribune: “We will made the reason public at a press conference scheduled to be held at our election campaign office in a short time.”
BNP leader Abdus Salam collected nomination form for contesting the mayoral race in the upcoming Dhaka South City Corporation polls on March 25.
However, like many other BNP leaders, Salam is also currently on the run to avoid arrest in the ongoing security crackdown.
Salam, currently finance secretary of BNP’s central committee, served as a deputy mayor of Dhaka during HM Ershad’s 1980s regime.
On behalf of Kabari, Sahidul Islam, personal secretary of the film actress, collected the nomination form on March 24.
Kabari was a Awami League lawmaker in Narayanganj 4.
Earlier on March 22, Bobby, the son of businessman Musa Bin Shamsher, collected his nomination form to contest in the city polls.
On March 21, he made the announcement of contesting the polls at his Banani office in the capital.
While made the announcement, he said: “There are two reasons for contesting the polls. Firstly, this is a non-partisan election where parties cannot directly back any candidate. Secondly, I was born in this city and I want to make Dhaka as I have dreamt.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune
