Khulna city polls: BNP mayoral candidate resumes campaigning after 5 hours

Nazrul Islam Manju, the BNP mayoral candidate for Khulna City Corporation polls, has resumed his election campaign five hours after suspending it, and has further urged the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls. He made the announcement at a press briefing at the party’s Khulna unit office on Thursday afternoon following a meeting with leaders of the BNP-led 20-party alliance. Manju said they would continue electoral procedures. He said: “The government is suffering from image crisis. To get over the crisis, it is intimidating us. “If the city corporation polls are not fair, then the upcoming national elections will not be fair as well.” The BNP candidate urged the Election Commission and the government to ensure the city polls are free and fair. Earlier in the morning, the BNP candidate held another press briefing where he suspended his campaign protesting the arrest of party activists. Police conducted a drive across Khulna city, from Wednesday night to early Thursday, and arrested 19 local leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated wings. The BNP candidate said if police action is not stopped, they will boycott a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in Khulna, scheduled for May 6. The Khulna City Corporation polls are scheduled to be held on May 15.

'BNP tries to boycott polls fearing loss'

Awami League mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque said BNP is trying to boycott the city polls fearing loss. He made the remarks during campaigning in two wards in the city on Thursday. “Khulna metropolitan lagged behind in the last five years due to lack of inept leadership,” Khaleque said. The Awami League candidate said if elected he would work for easing waterlogging and eradicating the mosquito menace in the city.