The midnight meeting between Nazrul Islam Babul, the Jatiya Party (JaPa) mayoral candidate in the Sylhet City Corporation election, and BNP-backed Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury has created much hype ahead of the polls slated for June 21.
During the courtesy call at the mayor's residence on Sunday midnight, Nazrul was welcomed by Ariful and his wife Shyama Haque Chowdhury. Despite being a favourite, Ariful has decided not to contest the polls in line with his party decision.
Earlier, Awami League-nominated mayoral candidate Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury also paid a courtesy call to the mayor at Sunday noon.
During the meeting, Nazrul and Ariful discussed various issues, including the polls environment in Sylhet. At that time, JaPa Central Committee Organizing Secretary Saifuddin Khaled and Sylhet Metropolitan Unit Member Secretary Abdus Shaheed Lashkar Bashir were present with Nazrul.
Mayor Ariful told Bangla Tribune: "JaPa mayoral candidate Nazrul Islam Babul and Awami League mayoral candidate Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury both came to my home and asked for blessings.
“They asked for cooperation and sought advice for the development of Sylhet. I have assured them of my cooperation. I want my townspeople to be happy.”
Arif recently announced that he would not be contesting the polls following the party decision, taken following the directives of acting chairperson Tarique Rahman.
According to the schedule declared by the Election Commission, the deadline to collect and submit the nomination papers was May 23. The deadline for withdrawing candidacy is June 1. The Election Commission will allocate symbols among candidates on the same day.
