1,030 file for election as Mayor or Councillor in Dhaka

Dhaka, Dec 31 – A total of 1,030 aspiring candidates submitted their nomination papers to the Returning Officers (RO) to be candidates of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) polls scheduled on January 30. As per Returning Officer of DSCC, a total of 560 aspirant candidates submitted their nomination papers till the last day of submission yesterday. Of them, seven submitted for the mayoral post, 99 for reserved seats for women and 454 for general ward councillors.
The seven mayoral aspirants are Md Aktar Uzzaman alias Ayatullah of Bangladesh Congress, Abdur Rahman of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh of Bangladesh Awami League, Bahrane Sultan Bahar of National Peoples Party, Mohammad Saifuddin of Jatiya Party, Ishraq Hossain of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Abdus Samad of Gonofront.
On the other hand, a total of 470 aspirant candidates submitted their nomination forms to the RO of DNCC. Of them, seven are mayoral aspirant while 89 are for reserved seats and 374 are for general ward councillors.
The mayoral aspirant are Shahin Khan of Progressive Democratic Party, Sheikh Md Fazle Bari Masud of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Md Atiqul Islam of Bangladesh Awami League, Md Anisur Rahman Dewan of National Peoples’ Party, Tabith Awal of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, GM Kamrul Islam of Jatiya Party, Ahammad Sajedul Haque of Bangladesh Communist Party.
As per the Election Commission’s (EC’s) election schedule, the last day of submission of nomination papers was yesterday, while the date for the scrutiny is tomorrow. The last date of withdrawal of nomination is January 9. The election symbols would be given on January 10.
Following the last day of submission of nomination papers, there were festive moods at the office of submitting the nomination papers as the candidates along with their supporters gathered the spot.
Awami League’s Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh have submitted their nomination forms to participate in the upcoming elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) respectively.
Taposh submitted his form to Election Commission Joint Secretary Md Abdul Baten, also returning officer of Dhaka South, at noon to the temporary office of Returning Officer at Valiant Freedom Fighter Sadeque Hossain Khoka Community Center in Gopibagh of Dhaka. While Atiqul submitted his form to Election Commission Joint Secretary Md Abul Kashem, also working as the returning officer in Dhaka North at the RO’s office in Agargaon, around 12:50 pm.
Both Atiqul and Taposh were accompanied by Awami League leaders and activists when they submitted their nomination forms for the mayoral posts.
While AL’s DNCC candidate Atique came to submit his nomination form, Atiqul was flanked by Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin, Dhaka North Awami League President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman along with General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi, FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim, former BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman and several other activists of Awami League and its affiliated organizations.
And while AL’s DSCC candidate Taposh came to submit his papers, Awami League leaders Abdur Rahman, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, among others, were present there.
Meanwhile, The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP’s) Tabith Awal and Ishraq Hossain also have submitted their nomination forms to their respective returning officer.
BNP-backed mayoral contestant for DNCC, Tabith went to the DNCC returning officer’s office in the capital’s Agargaon at noon and submitted the nomination paper to returning officer Abul Kashem to contest the mayoral poll. BNP Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, alongside other party leaders and activists were with Tabith at the time of the form submission.
On the other hand, Ishraq went to the Gopibagh office and submitted nomination papers to Md Abdul Baten, returning officer of Dhaka South. BNP leader Mirza Abbas, BNP Dhaka City Abdus Salam and Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas were with Ishraque during his nomination form submission.
While talking to reporters after submitting nomination forms Atique has vowed that if re-elected as mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), he will eradicate the dengue menace and incorporate a zero-tolerance policy towards illicit casino business.
He said he will strive to eradicate dengue from his area, with the cooperation of everyone, if he is elected again as mayor.
Atiqul also said: “Councillors who are involved in the casino business will not be tolerated.”
When asked about BNP calling this election farcical, he posed a question asking how a party can predict from the beginning that they will not be able to participate in this election.
He said: “I believe this election will be participatory. The reality is that one will win and another will lose. I have participated in a BGMEA election before, but never abandoned it halfway through.”
Expressing his hopes on winning the election, the former DNCC mayor said: “We will win by the votes of the general people. The boat [Awami League’s electoral symbol] has no back gear. I believe that victory is mine.”
“If the citizens of Dhaka elect me and give me the opportunity to serve them, my first priority will be to ensure service for the long-neglected citizens,” Taposh said after submitting the form.
Swerving a question on the incumbent Dhaka South Mayor Sayeed Hossain Khokon not being there with him, he said the Awami League is an inclusive organisation.
While talking to reporters after submission of forms, Tabith said: “I have verbally informed the returning officer to hold discussions regarding the overall matters of the elections.”
“I will remain in the race till the end,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ishraque told reporters: “There is no democracy in the country, as well as voting rights of the citizens. We will win the city polls.
“We asked for strict adherence to the election code of conduct. We’ll receive the nomination form only if they abide by the rules,” Dhaka North Assistant Returning Officer Nazrul Islam said. “Those candidates entering with more than five people accompanying them have been sent back while some of them were warned,” he added.
“We’re quite active in following the election code of conduct. We haven’t received any complaints as of now. We’ll take necessary actions if someone defies the law,” said Dhaka South Assistant Returning Officer Matiur Rahman.
The candidates cannot bring more than five people with them while submitting the nominations, cannot hold any showdown or bring out a procession, said the election officers.
Jatiya Party (JP) candidates Brigadier General (retd) Kamrul Islam for DNCC and Haji Saifuddin Ahmed Milon for DSCC have submitted their nomination forms to their respective returning officer.
As per the EC, over 57 lakh voters—32 lakh in DNCC and 25 lakh in DSCC—would cast their votes in around 14,000 booths of about 2,600 polling centres on January 30.
Apart from mayors, DNCC voters will also elect 54 ward councillors and 18 reserved women councillors, while DSCC voters will elect 75 ward councillors and 25 reserved women councillors. – Staff Reporter