The BNP has issued show-cause notices to 19 candidates of the Barisal City Corporation election for violating the party's decision not to join the polls.
Those facing the notice include former central Chhatra Dal leader Kamrul Hasan, who is vying for the mayoral post as an independent candidate, and three Barisal city unit joint conveners and members of the BNP contesting for the post of councillor.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi issued the notices, which were sent through WhatsApp around 11pm on Thursday.
Through the notice, the party also sought the written explanation of the 19 candidates within 24 hours as to why they would not face organizational action.
Earlier, in defiance of the party decision, 29 BNP leaders contested the Gazipur City Corporation election, with a dozen of them emerging victorious in the voting that saw a 48.75% turnout. All of them were expelled for life before the election, which took place on May 25.
On the other hand, in the upcoming Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election, slated for June 21, there are 12 BNP leaders for general councillor positions and three for reserved women councillor positions. Five of them are general councillors and two are reserved women councillors.
In Barisal, the general councillor candidates who got notice are metropolitan unit joint conveners Habibur Rahman Tipu, Shah Aminul Islam and Haroon Or Rashid, Convening Committee Member Salim Howladar and Jubo Dal's metropolitan unit Vice President Humayun Kabir.
On the other hand, the BNP leaders vying for the post of reserved councillor seats are metropolitan Mahila Dal Joint General Secretary Jasmin Samad, and Convening Committee members Selina Begum, Rashida Parveen and Jahanara Begum.
The rest of the recipients are current and former leaders of ward unit BNP and allied organizations.
Mayor aspirants continue campaign
Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim, the mayoral candidate backed by the Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), on Friday said that if voted to power, he will work for the city dwellers regardless of their political choice.
“We do Islamic politics and if I win, I will establish Barisal as a safe city. I'll run the city in line with the teachings and principles of Islam,” he said.
The IAB leader went on to say that he has already had his status updated as a resident on the national identification card, becoming a Barisal city dweller – a move he claims is meant to focus on the city's development.
On the other hand, Jatiya Party-nominated mayor candidate Iqbal Hossain Tapos on Friday declared war against corruption. He said corrupt people will not get the scope to flex muscles in Barisal.
Our Barisal Correspondent Anisur Rahman Swapan contributed to the report.