Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed hopes that the BNP and other parties would participate in the upcoming city corporation polls in Dhaka and Chittagong.
The premier, also the Awami League president, made the remarks during an unscheduled discussion following the weekly cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Monday .
“At this moment, it seems that candidates backed by all respective parties including the BNP will contest the upcoming polls,” said Hasina, who also presided the meeting.
The prime minister was quoted by those present at the meeting. They added that the prime minister also expressed her hopes that the BNP's participation in the city elections might bring down the level of ongoing violence.
“Several politicians have blamed the government for arranging the polls unwillingly and only aiming to stop the [20-party alliance's] movement. Let us see whether the people want the polls or [choose] violence in the name of movement,” Hasina was also quoted as saying.
Sources at the meeting further told the Dhaka Tribune that the meeting also discussed on many aspects of the city election, including the ruling party's backing for a candidate in the Dhaka South City Corporation election.
The cabinet members discussed on the prospects of mayor hopefuls Sayeed Khokon and Haji Selim. Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan both spoke for verifying the competency of the candidates to provide support in the DSCC mayoral race.
However, Hasina reportedly made no comment about the issue. But she urged her party leaders to work together to ensure sole party-backed candidacy for councillors at every ward.
Earlier, the Awami League gave its blessings to Sayeed Khokon, son of the first Dhaka city mayor Mohammad Hanif, for the Dhaka South, while former FBCCI president Annisul Huq was chosen for the Dhaka North. The party has also given its backing to AJM Nasir for the mayoral race in the Chittagong City Corporation election.
The election commission has scheduled April 28 for holding the polls to the three city corporations.