The country is likely to witness a fierce contest between the ruling Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for winning the Gazipur and Khulna city corporation elections, slated for May 15, as the arch-rivals both appear desperate to make a mark ahead of the next parliamentary polls.

AL nominee Mohammad Jahangir Alam and BNP nominee Hasanuddin Sarker submitted their nomination forms to the Election Commission for contesting Gazipur City Corporation elections yesterday, the closing date for nomination submission, while AL candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque and BNP candidate Nazrul Islam Monju submitted their forms for Khulna City Corporation polls.

Talking to The Independent, AL central leaders said they have taken the city corporation elections very seriously as the results of city polls would send a message of the party’s popularity to the leaders and activists across the country.

BNP leaders, on the other hand, said they are determined to win the elections as part of their movement to free party chairperson Khaleda Zia and for the restoration of democracy. The BNP has huge support across the country and the party will prove this by winning the upcoming city polls, they claimed.

As the elections will be held under party banner in the Gazipur and Khulna City Corporations on May 15, the main vote battle is likely be held between Boat and Sheaf of Paddy — the party electoral symbols of AL and BNP respectively.

However, the election campaigns are yet to get momentum since the runners have not yet got their electoral symbols from the

Election Commission. The candidates will get their symbol on April 24. Both AL and BNP think that the results of the two city polls will have a strong impact on the next polls scheduled to be held at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, violation of electoral code of conduct by both the mayoral candidates submitted their nomination forms to the returning officers’ office with the presence of huge participation of their supporters. After submitting his nomination form AL nominated candidate Jahangir Alam Sarker told the media that the government is committed to hold the upcoming city polls in a free fair and credible manner. Vowing to make the Gazipur a modern city, Jahangir said, “I hope the people of Gazipur will vote for Nouka in the upcoming polls. I want to build a modern city by ensuring all civic facilities for the city residents.”

About intra-party feuds the AL candidate said, “We are united. There is no internal conflict in the party. The leaders and activists of Gazipur will work for me together to ensure the victory of our party symbol Nouka.”

BNP mayoral candidate Hasanuddin Sarker said the Gazipur city residents will vote for Sheaf of Paddy in the coming polls in a bid to reply the present government’s misdeeds. BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is now in jail after getting 5-year jail term in a graft case.  The BNP candidate said he is very optimistic about victory in the polls if a level playing field is created.

Besides, after submitting his nomination form, AL mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khalek said the people of Khulna will vote for Nouka in the coming city polls as they are satisfied with the Sheikh Hasina government’s development works.

BNP candidate Monju said he will secure victory in the Khulna city polls if the administration plays a neutral role during voting hours. He also called upon the Election Commission to deploy army during the elections to hold it in a peaceful atmosphere.

According to the election schedule, the dates of nomination papers for scrutiny are April 15 and 16, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 23.