The election schedule for Gazipur and Khulna City Corporation polls will be announced soon, and the elections could be held before the holy month of Ramadan.
As the polls draw near, aspirants have begun various electoral activities, including campaigning. Possible candidates are working to promote their image through posters, banners, billboards, and by participating in rallies and meetings to woo the public.
BNP-backed candidated won previous city polls in both of these cities. But they spent little time performing their mayoral duties, and more time dealing with cases, suspensions and political pressure.
BNP central command is mired in litigation over the release of its Chief Khaleda Zia from incarceration. The BNP is uncertain whether the party has the ability to win in the upcoming city polls in these two cities.
Meanwhile, the Awami League has multiple heavyweight candidates. There are rumours that aspirants, who are currently in a favorable position with the city units, could become rebel candidates if they fail to secure the party’s nomination.
The Election Commission (EC) earlier revealed that the election schedule for Gazipur and Khulna City Corporations could be announced on March 31st.
The five-year tenure of Gazipur City Corporation and Khulna City Corporation will end on September 4 and September 25, respectively.
According to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, voting must be held within 180 days of completion of a city corporation’s tenure.
Gazipur City Corporation
In 2013, BNP vice chairman and former state minister for Religious Affairs Professor MA Mannan secured a landslide victory at the first election of Gazipur City Corporation.
He defeated Awami League President of Gazipur city unit and former mayor of Tongi Municipality Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan by a margin of 100,000 votes.
However, Mannan spent most of his mayoral tenure dealing with cases filed against him, suspension and incarceration.
Ward councillors backed by the Awami League handled day-to-day operations of the city corporation.
According to sources from the ruling party, the Awami League will launch its election campaign keeping victory as the primary focus, as it wants to shed the disappointment of losing in the first city polls of Gazipur.
A number of aspirants, believing them to be heavyweights, are fighting a cold war to secure the party nomination.
The ruling party nomination seekers were seen buzzing around Gazipur, attending almost every party program and informing the voters about their possible candidacy for mayoral and councillor positions.
The correspondent has learned that at least five Awami League figures are leading the battle for nomination.
They are- Awami League President of Gazipur city unit Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan, city unit vice president and Gazipur former city corporation acting mayor Asadur Rahman Kiron, city unit general secretary Jahangir Alam, city unit Jubo League Convener Kamrul Hasan Sarkar Rasel and Joint Convener Saiful Islam.
Speculation is high that the party high command will have to make a tough choice in nominating one of the five men as the mayoral candidate.
Speaking to the correspondent, Azmat Ullah said: “The BNP won the first election because of our mistakes and internal disputes. We have resolved these issues in the last five years.
“Meanwhile, the BNP mayor could not meet the expectations of the people. I firmly believe that the party chief [Sheikh Hasina] will nominate me.”
Kamrul Ahsan said: “I will seek nomination from the party, and if I am nominated, I will make a serious effort to bring back Awami League’s former glory in Gazipur.”
On the other hand, leaders and activists of BNP city unit are busy with their movement to free party Chief Khaleda Zia from incarceration.
According to sources, BNP is considering the following leaders as mayoral candidates- incumbent Mayor and BNP Vice Chairman Prof MA Mannan, central party leaders and former lawmaker Hasan Uddin Sarkar, Sramik Dal Executive President Salauddin Sarkar and son of the incumbent mayor Manjurul Karim Rony.
Supporters of Abdul Mannan will have to wait a few more days to learn whether he will participate in the upcoming city polls, as he is currently dealing with health complications and legal issues.
Mannan, who is under treatment stated: “We are currently engaged in a movement to free our leader Khaleda Zia.
However, if the party decides to participate in the city election and gives me the nomination, I will contest regardless of my condition.”Khulna City Corporation
In 2013, BNP-backed candidate Mohammad Moniruzzaman Moni won against the Awami League candidate and its city unit President Talukdar Abdul Khalek by 62,000 votes in the Khulna City Corporation Election.
Moniruzzaman was elected mayor after receiving 181,265 votes in total.
On November 2, 2015, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives temporarily suspended
Mayor Moniruzzaman after a court accepted charge sheet against him.
He managed to get back his post after 19 days, by filing a writ with the High Court.
The Khulna mayor submitted a number of projects during his tenure, but the ministry approved none of them.
Moniruzzaman did not succeed in fulfilling his 21 promises from his electoral manifest.
Speaking to the correspondent, several BNP leaders admitted that despite claiming the Khulna City Corporation as its fort, the party is currently disorganized here, and internal disputes have affected almost all parts of the city unit.
City unit BNP President Nazrul Islam Manju told the correspondent: “The BNP was prepared to continue its legacy of victory in the next city polls. But, this illegal government conspired to send our leader Khaleda Zia to jail, with plans to win the city polls unopposed.
“The Khulna BNP will fight this conspiracy together.”
On the other hand, supporters of ruling party leader Talukdar Abdul Khalek believe that he has a strong chance of winning the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election.
Abdul Khalek was elected lawmaker of Bagerhat 3 constituency in 2014.
Sadar Thana Awami League President Advocate Saiful Islam is also campaigning in hopes of securing a party nomination.
The spotlight is also on Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) President and Daulatpur Thana Awami League President Sheikh Syed Ali and city unit Jubo League Convener Advocate Anisur Rahman.
The recent involvement of former footballer and industrialist Salam Murshedy in Awami League politics has also generated speculations that he could be considered as a mayoral candidate.
Speaking to the correspondent, Talukder Abdul Khalek said: “I am a soldier of the boat symbol. I will support whoever is nominated by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a mayoral candidate in the Khulna city polls.”
Meanwhile, Advocate Saiful Islam said: “I will apply to party chief Sheikh Hasina seeking nomination as a mayoral candidate in the upcoming election. I will follow any directive give by her.”This article was first published on banglatribune.com
