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City Polls Participation

BNP waits on fate of writ petition

Rakib Hasnet Suman
The BNP high command might decide on the fate of the defiant party leaders for their participation in local government elections following High Court order on a writ petition questioning the legality of the elections before finalising voter rolls.
On July 6, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Jasim Uddin Sarker, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the public interest litigation (PIL), challenging the legality of two ordinances promulgated by the government for holding the local government elections.
Following the filing of the petition, the High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued a ruling upon the government and the Election Commission (EC) to explain within eight days as to why the EC's August 4 schedule for holding elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities without the final voter roll should not be declared illegal.
Rizvi Ahmed, acting office secretary of BNP, told The Daily Star on Wednesday that the high command has been observing the situation and once the HC passes the order regarding the polls, the party would take appropriate course of action against the leaders who are contesting the local body polls violating the party's decision. "Our senior leaders will take decision soon after getting the High Court decision on the writ petition."
Earlier, the BNP led four-party alliance formally announced that they would not take part in the local body polls, the BNP central leadership including Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain warned its party leaders saving that participating in the local body polls would be considered as violation of the party decision and action would be taken against the violators.
A number of well-known BNP leaders ignored the warning and
SEE PAGE 15 COL 5 signed up to contest the city corporation and municipality polls scheduled for on August 4. At least seven of these BNP leaders are running for mayoral posts in four city corporations.
A few former lawmakers close to the party secretary general however hinted that the party would not make any formal decision against the mayoral candidates. These candidates have a good chance of winning in the mayoral race, they said.
Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddique. a member of BNP Standing Committee, on Tuesday said there is a good chance that BNP candidates in the local government elections would defeat the Awami League candidates.
Party insiders however said some leaders from Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet are mounting pressure on the party's central leadership to go tough on the defiant leaders for running in the polls. Many district and divisional leaders already met the secretary general for his final decision regarding the rebel candidates.
I he local leaders requested the high command either to withdraw all candidates from the local elections or endorse a single candidate for a post to ensure victory, added the insiders.
Meanwhile on Wednesday. Khulna City acting Mayor Moniruzzaman Moni at a press conference in Khulna claimed that he is participating in the polls with full support of his party and leaders.