As per election schedule, today (Thursday) is the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers in view of the ensuing elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The candidates would be able to start campaign after getting their symbols distributed on January 11 as the EC fixed January 30 for holding the two city corporation polls.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser HT Imam yesterday said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has a distinct advantage vis-a-vis the Dhaka city corporation elections, as there is no bar on BNP leaders to campaign for party candidates.

“The BNP is in a better position than the Awami League (AL) in the run-up to the polls. Most of the AL lawmakers are in the capital, but they cannot participate in the campaign due to the bar placed by the electoral code of conduct. But BNP leaders have no such obstruction,” he added.

HT Imam came up with the statement before journalists at Election Bhaban after a meeting between an AL delegation and the Election Commission (EC). The AL delegation included the Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman, AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan, and Executive Member Reajul Kabir.

Election Commissioners Mahbub Talukder, Kabita Khanam, Rafiqul Islam, and Shahadat Hossain, and Returning Officers of both city corporation polls Abdul Baten and Abul Kashem and others were present. HT Imam further said the city corporation polls would be held with electronic voting machines (EVMs), and the AL would do everything to provide support to the EC to hold free and fair polls.

“We want the elections to be free, fair, acceptable, and transparent. We came here to talk on the issue,” he added. Asked about the arrest of BNP leaders during elections, HT Imam said, “We did not see any such incident. They always make such allegations.”

Mahbub Talukder said, “As per the electoral code of conduct, ministers, lawmakers, and important persons holding public offices with benefits cannot take part in the campaign. There is no way to relax the law. The EC will squarely abide by the rules and regulations. We have no scope to go beyond it.”

Talukder said the success of the EC largely depends on the presence of voters. The EC also sought cooperation of the political parties so that people can cast their votes.

Sources in the opposition Jatiya Party said a seven-member delegation of the party, led by its Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, would meet the EC at 2:30pm today on the issue of the Dhaka civic polls. Meanwhile, two mayoral candidates of the BNP have expressed doubts about a congenial atmosphere for the forthcoming elections to two city corporations.

Ishraque Hossain and Tabith Awal, the BNP’s mayoral candidates for the DNCC and DSCC respectively, were talking to the media after a meeting with the Jatiya Oikyafront’s top leader Dr Kamal Hossain.

The Oikyafront leader expressed apprehension that the government is making preparations for a “vote manipulation drama” in the city corporation polls.

Ishraque Hossain alleged that the environment indicates that the government has already determined the poll results by using the entire administration.

He, however, said they had achieved preliminary victory as they came to know that the government has given directives to use the administration to the optimum level.

Ishraque, son of the late Sadeque Hossain Khoka, who was a mayor of undivided Dhaka city, said they would fight till their last breath and would not leave the field of election.

Tabith Awal said the prevailing atmosphere is exactly what they apprehended before. He also said their allegations are being not taken into cognizance.

“Seeing the irregularities being carried by our rivals before the formal election campaign begins, we cannot expect that we will get a congenial atmosphere,” he added.

Both the BNP mayoral candidates told journalists that they had applied to the IGP (prison) and jail superintendent seeking permission to meet the party’s ailing chairperson, Khaleda Zia.

Dr Kamal Hossain said the government once again is preparing for activities by which they had earlier destroyed democracy. “Our appeal to the people is to come forward to establish their rights and save the country,” he added.

Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who, among others, was present at the meeting, said the Oikyafront had extended full support to the BNP mayoral candidates and they would work for them.

BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan, Ganaforum leaders Prof. Abu Sayed Khan, and Subrata Chowdhury, among others, were present at the meeting.