On the last day of withdrawing nomination papers, seven candidates in Dhaka north and south pulled out of the mayoral race yesterday for the upcoming city polls.
Those from Dhaka north are Sarah Begum Kabari, former Awami League lawmaker and filmstar; Bobby Hajjaj, former special adviser to Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad; and Mostafa Kamal Azadi.
With their withdrawal, 16 candidates now remain in the mayoral race in the Dhaka North City Corporation elections on April 28.
In the south of the capital city, Abdus Salam, a senior BNP leader, Kazi Abul Bashar, Riaz Uddin Ahmed and Imtiaz Alam, leader of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, withdrew their nomination yesterday.
In this part of Dhaka, 20 candidates will now bid for the post of the mayor on April 28.
Kabari said: “I have decided to withdraw my nomination to show respect to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s decision and in the greater interest of the party.”
She also said that the prime minister had not given any direct order, rather she gave her a hint.
Mayoral aspirant Bobby Hajjaj’s brother Jubi Musa filed the request for his withdrawal. After his application was accepted by the Dhaka north’s returning office, Bobby talked to reporters at a conferene in Banani in the afternoon.
He said: “The Election Commission has failed to create a reliable field for the candidates.”
He claimed: “I was in pressure from a political parties. Those who supported me were also under pressure. Yesterday they expelled two of my supporters.”