Bangladesh News

Amid a festive mood, local-level leaders of major political parties filed applications seeking candidacy in the August 4 polls to four city corporations and nine municipalities on the last day of nomination paper submission yesterday.

A total of 68 mayor aspirants, 933 councillor aspirants and 202 women for reserved seats submitted their nomination papers peacefully for the four city corporation polls with AL and BNP having more than one candidate from their camps running for mayoral posts.

Even though the AL formally decided to take part in the polls, BNP is yet to acquiesce.

The AL-led 14-party coalition would finalise its nominees by July 12, a day before the last date of withdrawing nomination.

Sources said if BNP finally boycotts the polls, many of its leaders would withdraw from running while some would take part in the elections as independent candidates.

Meanwhile, Khulna city unit of BNP announced that they would boycott polls to Khulna City Corporation (KCC).

In Khulna, 15 people submitted nomination papers for the mayoral post, 281 for the 31 posts of councillors, and 47 women for the 10 reserved seats.

In Rajshahi, 18 people, including a female candidate, submitted nomination papers for the mayoral post, 242 people for 30 posts of councillors, and 64 women for the 10 reserved seats.

In Sylhet, 21 people submitted nomination papers for the mayoral post so far, 223 for the 27 posts of councillors, and 49 women for the nine reserved seats.

In Barisal, 14 people submitted nomination papers for the mayoral post, 187 for the 30 posts of councillors, and 42 women for the 10 reserved seats.

KHULNA
Despite the boycott call of Khulna city unit of BNP and warning of party disciplinary actions, BNP leader and acting Mayor of KCC Moniruzzaman Moni filed his nomination paper yesterday.

Among four AL leaders, who submitted nomination papers for the mayoral post, the party’s central committee and Khulna City AL unit endorsed its President Talukder Abdul Khaleque for the mayoral post, reports our Khulna correspondent.

RAJSHAHI
There was no of political strength like in the past. Curious people as well as party workers thronged the election commission office at Laxmipur creating a festive mood, reports our staff correspondent in Rajshahi.

Three AL leaders and four BNP leaders submitted nomination papers yesterday.

Workers’ Party politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha, city AL President Maksudul Haque Dulu and General Secretary AHM Khairuzzaman Liton submitted nomination papers on behalf of the AL-led 14-party combine.

BNP leader and acting RCC Mayor Rezaunnabi Dudu, former district BNP general secretary Enamul Haque, former lawmaker Jahan Panna and city Jubo Dal President Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul submitted their nomination papers.

Meanwhile, leaders and activists of AL Rajshahi city unit yesterday urged the party high-ups to nominate Liton as the city mayoral candidate, our Rajshahi University correspondent added.

SYLHET
The returning officer’s office and its surrounding areas at Sylhet city’s Alampur received a festive look as hundreds of people gathered yesterday, reports our staff correspondent in Sylhet.

Detained mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran’s son Arman Ahmed Shiplu along with Kamran’s mother and brothers filed Kamran’s nomination papers while acting Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Azam Khan filed nomination papers for ward councillorship even though he had collected the nomination form for the mayoral post.

In Sylhet, the AL and BNP are yet to endorse their candidates.

Sources said the AL might choose either Kamran or Dewan Farid Gazi for the mayoral post but their decision depends on whether Kamran will be able to run for office.

BNP would sit soon to finalise its candidate. Sources said former district BNP president MA Haque, defeated by Kamran in the first SCC poll in 2003, may be selected again.

BARISAL
Barisal City AL Convener Shawkat Hossain Hiron, BNP leaders Ahsan Habib Kamal and Ebaidul Haque Chan submitted their nomination papers for the mayoral posts yesterday.

Nagorik Parishad President Enayet Pir Khan submitted his nomination papers under the banner of his organisation, reports our Barisal correspondent.

BNP leader and acting Mayor Awlad Hossain Dilu also submitted nomination papers at the District Election Office. A number of leaders and workers of different political parties thronged the election office premises to extend their support for their candidates.

Sources claim many ward commissioners with links to crime during the BNP-Jamaat regime submitted their nomination papers yesterday.