Sadeque Hossain Khoka, president of ruling BNP' city unit, still remains the officially declared candidate for Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) mayoral election although there are more than one aspirants in the party vying for the party ticket.

Former Dhaka city mayor Mirza Abbas, now the Housing and Public Works Minister, and former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo are lobbying hard for party nomination, according to party insiders.

In 1998 when the previous Awami League government made a move to hold mayoral election just before the expiry of the DCC's tenure, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at a public meeting formally declared Sadeque Hossain Khoka as the party's mayor candidate.

The election did not take place though, owing to various reasons including legal complications.

Tenure of the existing elected body of DCC expired in 1999.

Party sources said the BNP chief considered Khoka as one of the most popular leaders in the capital city. Khoka was the lone BNP leader who was elected MP in 1996 general election although the party itself was handed out defeat in the polls.

Most leaders of the BNP and its front organisations believe that it was the tirelessmore often than not courageousefforts of Khoka that helped the party to get reorganised and strengthened after the 1996 polls debacle, the sources added.

The BNP regained all eight parliamentary seats in Dhaka in the October 1, 2001 general elections like it did in 1991.

No-one from the BNP openly expressed their desire to get party tickets since the BNP chief announced Khoka's candidature in 1998. But, all on a sudden, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal President and

Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza Abbas at a function on December 25, 2001 made public his desire to be the party candidate, the sources added.

Abdul Awal Mintoo, who joined with the BNP ahead of the eighth parliamentary polls, is also running after party nomination for the mayoral polls. Sources said prior to his joining the BNP, Mintoo wanted Khaleda to make a pledge about his candidature.

The BNP sources said the party has not promised Mintoo anything, but Khaleda assured him of due honour in the party. Mintoo has reportedly been exchanging opinions and in touch with city ward commissioners, elite and other influential persons.

Sources close to Mirza Abbas said he is now giving priority to availing himself of the ticket than doing his job at the ministry. They said his supporters at policy-making level have already started lobbying for him.

Talking to The Daily Star, a number of BNP policymaker said recently that the party had yet not changed decision regarding the mayoral candidate. They also ruled out any such possibility saying that Khoka is way ahead of "other aspirants" in terms of performance and image.

Frontline party leaders said being the president of city unit Khoka has been in close contact with the city dwellers since he was declared the mayor candidate.

Meanwhile, sources said the government is planning to hold the mayoral polls in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna soon. Accordingly, it has decided to pass a new law providing dissolution of elected local government bodies on completion of their tenure. A bill in this regard will be placed in the ongoing parliament session and the law will be made effective immediately after the bill's passage.

BNP sources said the mayors of the three city corporations have been holding their office although their tenure expired in 1999.