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August 4 Mayoral Elections

Old faces likely to run in most places

Hasan Jahid Tusher
Many known grassroots level leaders of major political parties including Awami League (AL) and BNP intend to run for the offices of mayors in the August 4 polls to four city corporations.
But disputes have arisen in both AL and BNP over nominating single partisan candidates for the may-oral posts in four city corporations as multiple members of both par-
ties filed for candidacies.
The new electoral law and the code of conduct for local government electioneering however stipulate that the polls are absolutely non-partisan, banning use of candidates' political affiliations including use of names of the parties they are affiliated with, and name of any political leader in election campaigns.
In the meantime, AL is trying to convince both its grassroots and
central leaders to nominate one candidate for each of the mayoral posts, while grassroots level leaders of BNP are trying to finalise the nominations for at least two city corporation mayoral races, sources said.
Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain of the BNP faction loyal to its detained Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said BNP-led four-party alliance will not contest in the local government polls and will take disciplinary actions against party leaders who will contest in those
Most of the grassroots level leaders of BNP other than the leaders of its Khulna unit however want to contest in the polls and already submitted applications for candidacies.
Rajshahi unit BNP leaders want to finalise the nomination for Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) mayoral race before the July 13 deadline for withdrawal of candi dacies. reported our correspondent from there
BNP leader also Acting RCC Mayor Rejaunnabi Dudu, former district BNP general secretary Enamul Haque, former lawmaker Jahan Panna, and City Jubo Dal President Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul submitted their applications lor candidacies
The local BNP unit and its alliance partners are likely to hold a meeting soon to finalise a common candidate from the four, sources said.
AL is facing a severe problem there in its attempt to nominate its own AHM Khairuzzaman Liton for the RCC mayoral race since its 14-party coalition partner Workers Parry's Politburo Member Fazle Hosain Badsha also intends to run for the post.
Badsha contested in the last RCC poll bagging a handsome number of votes Besides, Rajshahi Qty AL President Maksudul Haque Dulu also filed for candidacy.
Under the circumstance, AL might end up acquiescing in Badsha's nomination in a bid to maintain the coalition's unity, said a key AL leader, while Liton is also on a hectic manoeuvring to get the nomination on grounds that there arc more than one lakh AL votes that he expects to bag.
"We will finalise our nominee based on the ground reality and
recommendations from the grassroots level, so we may extend the party's full support to the candidate." said an Al. presidium member on condition of anonymity. 1 he AL leader also said they want to safeguard the interest of their coalition.
*1 believe our party leaders and workers are ready to sacrifice. The grassroots level leaders want to maintain the unity of 14-party coalition," the AL leader said
In Khulna, 19 persons belonging to BNP and its different front organisations filed applications for candidacy flouting Ute party decision to boycott the poll, our staff correspondent reported from there.
A leader of Khulna BNP also Acting Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Moniruzzaman Moni also filed for candidacy
Although, AL central and Khulna city units extended support to its City Unit President Talukder Abdul Khaleque. local leaders including City Unit General Secretary Mizanur Rahman. Advocate Sheikh Enayet Ali. and Mallick Abid Hossain Kabir filed for candidacies separately.
In Sylhet. all incumbent ward commissioners, most of whom arc BNP leaders, filed for candidacies again while some new faces arc also aspiring for the posts. Some known faces who have criminal records also filed for candidacies, reported our staff correspondent.
While the central committee of AL wants to nominate detained Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran for the mayoral race there, it is also keeping the option open for nominating Dewan Farid Gazi in case Kamran’s nomination turn out to be too ambitious. Kamran's son Annan Ahmed Shiplu submitted his father's application for candidacy.
Meanwhile. AL leaders Abduj Jahir Chowdhury Sufian. Misbah
Uddin Siraj, and Htekhar Hossain Shamim also applied.
Leaders of Sylhet BNP will sit together soon to finalise a single mayoral nominee, sources said adding that (ormer district BNP president MA Haque who was defeated by Kamran in the first SCC poll in 2003, might be nominated again.
BNP leaders AIM Kamal, Inamul Haque Chowdhury, and Nasim Hossain also filed for mayoralcandidacy.
Although both AL central and Bansal city units prefer Convener of City AL Shawkat Hossain Hiron as their mayoral choice, city AL leaders Rejaul Haque Harun, Alamgir Hossain Alo, and Masudul Haque Khan already submitted their applications for candidacy, reported our correspondent from there
BNP leaders Ahsan Habib Kamal. Ebaidul Haque Chan and Acting Mayor of Barisal City Corporation Awlad Hossain Dilu also submitted their applications for the mayoral race there. Sources said a group of BNP central leaders went to Bansal to discuss possible nominees, and the party might nominate Kamal.