NCC polls: Shakhawat seeks 'level playing field'

"We don't want any favours from the EC," Shakhawat said ahead of the December 22 polls. "We want a level playing field where we (BNP) and the ruling party will get the equal opportunities." The BNP candidate claimed to have the backing of around 60% voters of Narayanganj city and said he will become mayor if the election is held in a "free and fair manner". He urged the district administration to withdraw its "corrupt officials" and carry out drives to seize illegal arms from political cadres ahead of the election. Shakhawat also pledged to build Narayanganj as a 'Model City Corporation', if elected. The mayoral hopeful has been working as a lawyer at Narayanganj district court for 22 years. He played a vital role in ensuring the trial of the perpetrators of the sensational seven-murder case when he was the president of Narayanganj Bar Association.'No party split'Shakhawat said his nomination for the mayoral race will not split the unity of city unit BNP as party chief Khaleda Zia picked him in consultation with other senior leaders of the district. Shakhawat said party activists and all senior leaders of Narayanganj, including Taimur Alam Khandaker and Muhammad Gias Uddin, had congratulated him on winning the BNP's nomination and had promised their full support during the electioneering. "Party activists will unanimously work for Shakhawat Hossain," said ATM Kamal, general secretary of city unit BNP. At a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the name of Shakhawat Hossain as the party's mayoral aspirant for NCC. On Friday, Awami League's local government nomination board selected incumbent NCC mayor Selina Hayat Ivy to contest the polls with the party's electoral symbol 'boat'. The NCC polls is scheduled to be held on December 22.