DHAKA: The BNP-led 20-party alliance will nominate lone candidate in the mayoral by-polls of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), which is likely to be held on February 26.
The decision was taken at the meeting of the alliance held at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office in the capital city on Monday night (January 08).
The meeting began at about 9:15 pm with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair.
Top leaders of the alliance agreed to task Khaleda Zia with the job of finalizing the candidate in the mayor post.
Bangladesh NAP secretary general of M Golam Mustafa Bhuiyan, who attended the meeting, told Banglanews that the 20-party chief Khaleda Zia will finalize the candidate after announcement of the polls schedule. He said that the Jamaat’s representative told the meeting that they will accept the 20-party’s decision.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat leader Maulana Abdul Halim, secretary general of Jatiya Party (Zafor) Mostafa Jamal Haider, chairman of Bangladesh Kalyan Party Syed Muhamamd Ibrahim Birpratik, chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Barrister Andalib Rahman Partha, president of Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) Prof Rehana Prodhan, chairman of Islami Oikya Jote Maulana MA Rakib, LDP secretary general Dr Redwan Ahmed, Khelafat Majlis secretary general Ahmed Abdul Quader, Maulana Abdur Rab Yusufi of Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam, secretary general of Bangladesh NAP M Golam Mustafa Bhuiyan, Fariduzzaman Farhad of National Peoples’ Party (NPP), Saifuddin Moni of Democratic League and Sheikh Julfikar Bulbul Chowdhury of Bangladesh Muslim League attended the meeting, among others.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Labour Party was not invited in the meeting, as the party was divided into two factions.
Khaleda Zia called the meeting to discuss the latest political situation and work out its next course of action.
The meeting sources said that Khaleda Zia and the 20-party leaders discussed various issues, including the mayoral by-polls. The city polls issue was discussed in the meeting mainly, as the Jamaat-e-Islami has already announced that its Dhaka north unit chief Mohammad Selim Uddin will contest in the by-polls as mayoral candidate.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has already started campaigning for the by-polls.
Jamaat-e-Islami is the key ally of BNP and the party did not nominate candidate for mayoral post in the last Rangpur City Corporation polls. However, their candidates took part in the councilor posts.
The DNCC mayor post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq. The Election Commission has planned to hold the by-polls in DNCC on February 26.
It is being heard that the ruling Awami League may nominate former FBCCI president Atiqul Islam for the mayor post. The BNP has not yet finalized its candidate. Tabith Awal was the BNP-backed candidate of last election.
BDST: 0110 HRS, JAN 09, 2018
EHJ
