Interest in the Dhaka city corporation elections has heightened further with BNP-backed Abdul Awal Mintoo and Mirza Abbas collecting nomination forms for Dhaka North and South respectively. In the North, Anisul Huq is contesting from the Awami League (AL) camp. In the South, AL’s candidate is former Mayor Mohammed Hanif’s son Sayed Khokan.
BNP candidates in Dhaka are to contest under the Shoto Nagorik (Hundred Citizens) banner. In Chittagong, they will contest under the banner of Chittagong Unnayan Andolan (Chittagong Development Movement) banner.
Shoto Nagorik committee convenor Professor Emajuddin Ahmed led an eight-member team to call on BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office at seven-thirty in the evening yesterday. At the meeting it was decided to contest in the election under these banners.
There had been a crisis of candidates for BNP in Dhaka South. Yesterday BNP’s international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon collected nomination papers for the mayor post in Dhaka South. Previously papers had been collected by the party’s central financial affairs secretary Abdus Salam, city BNP’s joint convenor Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintoo and BNP-backed Shikkhak-Karmachari Oikya Jote leader Selim Bhuiyan.
BNP sources said that at the behest of party chairperson Khaleda Zia, standing committee member and Dhaka City BNP convenor Mira Abbas yesterday collected the nomination papers. Earlier, with support of Khaleda Zia, her advisor and city BNP’s joint convenor Abdul Awal Mintoo collected his nomination papers. Their candidature has been a boost to the morale of BNP leaders and activists. If Mirza Abbas cannot contest in the polls for any reason, Abdus Salam will be the party candidate.
BNP is now concentrating on an environment conducive for the elections. They will shortly put forward some demands to ensure a level playing field for a free and fair election. They will demand that a halt be put to the harassment of Khaleda Zia and that all candidates be ensured of equal rights. They will also demand that BNP mayoral and councillor candidates not be harassed and that all jailed leaders and activists of the party, including acting secretary general Mirza Abbas, be released.
BNP will take a final decision about participating in the polls after assessing the government and the administration’s response to the demands. If the environment is not conducive to fair polls, they may boycott the election.
Shoto Nagorik committee member secretary Abdul Hye Sikder told Prothom Alo, “We apprised the BNP chairperson of our meeting with the election commissioner. They are observing the government and the election commission’s behaviour. BNP will join the election if the commission carries out its constitutional duties and authorities in a neutral manner.”
BNP sources say that election campaign and the movement will continue simultaneously. Top leadership of the party has recommended that the election be part of the movement. That is why the blockade is not being withdrawn at the moment. While there was no hartal on Independence Day, there is strong possibility of hartals again this week. However, this is not likely on Sunday, the last day of submitting nomination papers.
Senior BNP leaders have said, the environment for an election has not been created as yet. The leaders and workers in Dhaka are still under pressure. No one can openly announce their candidature. They are facing cases and police are raiding their homes. Many are in jail. If this situation is not rectified, BNP will chose a different path. BNP vice chairman Abdullah Al Noman told Prothom Alo, people are angered not having been able to vote in the national parliamentary election. This will be reflected in the city corporation polls.
Source: Prothom Alo