The ruling Awami League is looking for a candidate with a “clean image” like former mayor Annisul Huq for the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-polls.
Two senior leaders of the party said the Awami League may end up picking a social or cultural personality to represent the party in the by-polls.
They said there had even been informal discussions about selecting the candidate from Annisul’s own family.
However, several policymakers said there had not been any discussion within the party on the matter, but there was likely to be an agreement on selecting a candidate who had a clean image to ensure Awami League’s victory.
“The party will choose a popular candidate with a clean image for the DNCC by-polls, as it did in the past,” Awami League Presidium Member Faruk Khan said. “The party’s local government election board will nominate the candidate and make the final decision.”
Annisul Huq - the first holder of the DNCC post who was swept into power on a populist wave in 2015 - died on November 30 while undergoing treatment at a London hospital.
Sources in the ruling party’s policy-making body said family members get priority in such situations and therefore, there could be a search for potential candidate within Annisul’s family.
There are rumours about Awami League picking either Salman F Rahman or Saber Hossain Chowdhury. But several policymakers said there was “zero chance” that either figure would receive the nomination.
They said there would not be any complications in selecting candidate and that there were aspirants.
The ruling party’s Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif declined to discuss the matter, saying: “Mayor Annisul has died only a few days ago. I do not want to talk about the issue. Let the mourning end first.”
The DNCC is scheduled to go to polls by February next year. The law stipulates organizing a by-election within 90 days of a city corporation seat falling vacant.This article was first published on Bangla Tribune
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
