DNCC mayoral by-election

AL to meet today to pick candidate

The Awami League (AL) will meet today (Tuesday) to pick its mayoral candidate for contesting the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-election scheduled for February 26. The ruling party would officially announce the name of its candidate at a meeting of its local government nomination board at Sheikh Hasina’s official residence, Ganabhaban, at 7pm.

AL insiders said business icon and former president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Atiqul Islam, might get the AL's ticket for contesting the prestigious by-election.

From Saturday, the AL started the sale of nomination papers that continued till yesterday. So far, 17 aspirants have collected and submitted nomination.

Atiqul Islam submitted his nomination at AL president Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office at about 4pm yesterday. Before submitting his nomination, hundreds of workers gathered in front of the party office and chanted slogans in favour of Atiqul Islam.

Business icons Salman F Rahman, AK Azad, Shafiul Islam Mahiuddin, SM Mannan Kachi and Siddiqur Rahman were present.

After submitting his nomination, Atiqul Islam spoke to the media. He said he is committed to fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by turning Dhaka into a modern and clean city.

“If I get the AL's ticket and am elected the DNCC mayor, North Dhaka will be turned into an active city,” he promised.

Another aspirant, poet Russel Ashequi, also submitted his nomination. He told the media that he would build a "city of peace" by ensuring all modern facilities for the city residents, if he was given the ticket and secured victory in the DNCC by-poll.

On the other hand, the BNP’s national executive member, Tabith Awal, is going to be the party's mayoral candidate for the DNCC by-polls.

BNP nomination board last finalised its decision and picked Awal after interviewing the party nomination seekers for the by-polls at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement at a press briefing after the nomination board's meeting.

Contacted, Awal reacted saying his nomination is the victory of the youth in the country.

"The BNP chairperson has nominated me as the mayoral candidate for the sheaf of paddy (BNP's electoral symbol). I think, it’s the victory of youth of the country," he said in his immediate reaction after the BNP nomination selection board selected him as the BNP mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-poll. Awal said a major

political party like BNP kept confidence on youth and it would encourage him a lot. He also expressed his gratitude to former premier Khaleda Zia for selecting him saying that she kept her word that the future Bangladesh would be for the youths.

Earlier, the party had said that it would finalise the candidate after seeing the ruling party candidate.

Tabith Awal, son of business tycoon and BNP vice chair Abdul Awal Mintoo, had contested the last DNCC mayoral election. He had got 3,25,080 votes against his winning rival Annisul Huq's 4,60,117.

Senior leaders said the party decided on Awal as its candidate as he had got huge publicity during the last DNCC polls on April 29, 2015 and would do better in the ensuing by-poll.

Besides, considering all aspects, Tabith was well prepared compared to the four other candidates, they said.

The other aspirants who have collected and submitted nomination papers are BNP special affairs secretary Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, Dhaka North BNP president MA Quaiyum, assistant publication secretary Shakil Wahed and former lawmaker Maj. (retd) Akhteruzzaman.

Talking to The Independent before appearing before the interview board, Tabith Awal expressed his optimism to get the party nomination, if  all aspects were taken into consideration.

On Saturday, party standing committee members, at a meeting at the chairperson’s Gulshan office, discussed the prospective candidates and gave the responsibility to Khaleda Zia to finalise the candidate for the DNCC mayoral poll.

According to the schedule, the last date for submitting nomination is January 18. The nomination papers will be scrutinised between January 21 and 22. The last date for withdrawal of nomination is January 29.

The post of the DNCC mayor became vacant after Annisul Huq passed away on November 30 last year. The Local Government Division declared the post vacant on December 1.

 

DNCC mayoral by-election

AL to meet today to pick candidate

The Awami League (AL) will meet today (Tuesday) to pick its mayoral candidate for contesting the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-election scheduled for February 26. The ruling party would officially announce the name of its candidate at a meeting of its local government nomination board at Sheikh Hasinas official residence, Ganabhaban, at 7pm. AL insiders said business icon and former president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Atiqul Islam, might get the ALs ticket for contesting the prestigious by-election. From Saturday, the AL started the sale of nomination papers that continued till yesterday. So far, 17 aspirants have collected and submitted nomination. Atiqul Islam submitted his nomination at AL president Sheikh Hasinas Dhanmondi political office at about 4pm yesterday. Before submitting his nomination, hundreds of workers gathered in front of the party office and chanted slogans in favour of Atiqul Islam. Business icons Salman F Rahman, AK Azad, Shafiul Islam Mahiuddin, SM Mannan Kachi and Siddiqur Rahman were present. After submitting his nomination, Atiqul Islam spoke to the media. He said he is committed to fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by turning Dhaka into a modern and clean city. If I get the ALs ticket and am elected the DNCC mayor, North Dhaka will be turned into an active city, he promised. Another aspirant, poet Russel Ashequi, also submitted his nomination. He told the media that he would build a city of peace by ensuring all modern facilities for the city residents, if he was given the ticket and secured victory in the DNCC by-poll. On the other hand, the BNPs national executive member, Tabith Awal, is going to be the partys mayoral candidate for the DNCC by-polls. BNP nomination board last finalised its decision and picked Awal after interviewing the party nomination seekers for the by-polls at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias Gulshan office. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement at a press briefing after the nomination boards meeting. Contacted, Awal reacted saying his nomination is the victory of the youth in the country. The BNP chairperson has nominated me as the mayoral candidate for the sheaf of paddy (BNPs electoral symbol). I think, its the victory of youth of the country, he said in his immediate reaction after the BNP nomination selection board selected him as the BNP mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-poll. Awal said a major political party like BNP kept confidence on youth and it would encourage him a lot. He also expressed his gratitude to former premier Khaleda Zia for selecting him saying that she kept her word that the future Bangladesh would be for the youths. Earlier, the party had said that it would finalise the candidate after seeing the ruling party candidate. Tabith Awal, son of business tycoon and BNP vice chair Abdul Awal Mintoo, had contested the last DNCC mayoral election. He had got 3,25,080 votes against his winning rival Annisul Huqs 4,60,117. Senior leaders said the party decided on Awal as its candidate as he had got huge publicity during the last DNCC polls on April 29, 2015 and would do better in the ensuing by-poll. Besides, considering all aspects, Tabith was well prepared compared to the four other candidates, they said. The other aspirants who have collected and submitted nomination papers are BNP special affairs secretary Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, Dhaka North BNP president MA Quaiyum, assistant publication secretary Shakil Wahed and former lawmaker Maj. (retd) Akhteruzzaman. Talking to The Independent before appearing before the interview board, Tabith Awal expressed his optimism to get the party nomination, if all aspects were taken into consideration. On Saturday, party standing committee members, at a meeting at the chairpersons Gulshan office, discussed the prospective candidates and gave the responsibility to Khaleda Zia to finalise the candidate for the DNCC mayoral poll. According to the schedule, the last date for submitting nomination is January 18. The nomination papers will be scrutinised between January 21 and 22. The last date for withdrawal of nomination is January 29. The post of the DNCC mayor became vacant after Annisul Huq passed away on November 30 last year. The Local Government Division declared the post vacant on December 1.