The day after an official BNP press statement dismissed the upcoming city corporation polls as a “mockery of elections,” the party’s Chittagong city leadership announced its mayoral candidate and claimed the BNP central command had endorsed their choice.
In a seeming about-turn on the issue, BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman yesterday said participating in the three city corporation polls was part of the BNP’s ongoing anti-government movement.
“The BNP central command will soon announce mayoral candidates for the three city corporation elections,” he said.
Following a meeting with incumbent Chittagong city Mayor M Manjur Alam and BNP city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Noman said the BNP’s Chittagong leadership had recommended that the party back Manjur’s re-election bid.
The incumbent mayor said he would collect nomination papers if the BNP’s central leadership endorses his nomination for the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayoral polls scheduled for April 28.
BNP Chittagong city unit Vice-President Abu Sufian confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that the BNP central command had endorsed Manjur for the CCC elections, adding that it would be officially announced shortly.
Abu Sufian and other leaders of the unit were present at the meeting. But city unit General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, another aspirant for the mayoral nomination, did not attend the meeting.
Claiming that the public was eager to give its decision against the government, Noman said the BNP was now more united than at any other time.
“If the election takes place in a free and fair manner, the BNP-backed candidate will win just like in the previous election,” he added.
Amir Khasru said the BNP would reply to the oppression of the ruling party by getting the mandate of the people at the ballot box.
On Wednesday, BNP-backed Chattagram Unnayan Andolon, an organisation of pro-BNP professionals, announced its support for Manjur’s candidacy.
When asked whether their endorsement was supported by the BNP, Chattagram Unnayan Andolon Convener Dr Abul Kalam Azad said his organisation was a professional association and that any party could support its views.
According to Election Commission rules, the deadline to submit nomination forms is March 29. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 1 and 2.
The deadline to withdraw nominations is April 9.
