Awami League's Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh have submitted their nomination forms to participate in the Dhaka city polls.
Taposh submitted his form to Election Commission Joint Secretary Md Abdul Baten, also returning officer of Dhaka South, at noon; while Atiqul submitted his form to Election Commission Joint Secretary Md Abul Kashem, also working as the returning officer in Dhaka North, around 12:50pm on Tuesday.
Both Atiqul and Taposh were accompanied by Awami League leaders and activists when they submitted their nomination forms for the mayoral posts.
Atiqul Islam submits his nomination form to EC Joint Secretary Md Abul Kashem, also working as the returning officer in Dhaka North, at his office in Dhaka's Agargaon on December 31, 2019 | Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka TribuneAtiqul was flanked by Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin, Dhaka North Awami League President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman along with General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi, FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim, former BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman and several other activists of Awami League and its affiliate organizations.
According to the directives of the Election Commission, a candidate can only be accompanied by five people while submitting the nomination documents. However, a legion of Awami League leaders and activists escorted Atiqul in a motorcade when he came to submit the nomination form, this correspondent reported from the spot.
Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh submits his nomination form on December 31, 2019 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
Regarding violation of Election Commission's directives, Atiqul said: "We have not brought a motorcade. Besides, there are other candidates for the post of councillor who came to submit the nomination forms and I submitted my nomination paper with everyone around me."
The Awami League has picked Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Atiqul Islam as its mayoral candidates for the Dhaka city elections set to be held on January 30, 2020.
They have both resigned from their respective posts to participate the polls Taposh resigned from his Member of Parliament (MP) post for the Dhaka 10 constituency while Atiqul resigned from his post as DNCC mayor.
