Reza Mahmud :
The BNP has taken it as a challenge to win at least mayor and several councillor posts in the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls to be held on 22nd December. The high command of the party conferred responsibilities in this respect upon some central leaders. They and local leaders of the party are now spending very busy time in devising various plans and strategies.
“There are sufficient numbers of voters in favour of the BNP candidate Sakhawat Hossain Khan. The Election Commission should take appropriate measures to hold the polls in free and fair manner,” Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, the Standing Committee Member and the Coordinator of NCC polls said it. Sources said, BNP high command has given special importance to the election for various reasons. The party leaders said, Narayanganj is a very important city as it is close to the capital Dhaka. The BNP needs to prove it that the BNP is an election oriented political party and has its popularity among the voters. Winning the Narayanganj polls, the party wants to send its goodwill message to all.
On the other hand, they also want to see the standard of neutrality of the EC, the government and specially the Administration. Some senior leaders said, the party has chosen Sakhawat Hossain Khan instead of the well designated leaders due to his fame. As a lawyer, Sakhawat Hossain Khan is a plaintiffs lawyer in the Sensational Seven Murder case of Narayanganj.
The BNP thinks the seven murder case is an embarrassing situation for the government. The local people are serious about the incident. They are sympathised with the victims of the murder. On the other hand, the then President of the District Lawyers body Sakhawat Hossain Khan has played a vital role in the case. It made him famous and popular among the city residents. Considering all, the BNP has chosen the vocal lawyer as their candidate.
In addition, the BNP also thinks that the local leaders of the ruling Awami League are divided between two major groups. One group is led by its influential leader Shamim Osman, MP, and the other is headed by the mayor candidate Selina Hayat Ivy. The division may favour the BNP to win the race.
After getting party nomination, Sakhawat Hossain said that he was optimistic about the supports of voters, but pessimistic about the EC and administrations possible negative roles as observed in the past. “People are united to favour the BNP’s symbol of Seaf of Pddy. But I am anxious that the ruling Awami League men are violating electoral laws. We demand appropriate measures to make the election participatory and acceptable to all,” said Sakhawat Hossain Khan.
As a part of strategy, the BNP coordination committee of NCC polls held a meeting yesterday in the Bhasani Bhaban at Naya Paltan in the capital.
Gayeshwar Chandra Roy presided over the committee. Central leader Fazlul Haque Milan, Abdus Salam Azad, Narayanganj Dstrict President Taimur Alam Khandakar and General Secretary Kazi Moniruzzaman, among others, were present.
The leaders discussed various strategies like forming various committees watching every vote center and door to door campaign. Gayeshwar Chandra Roy called the leaders to work together for a win in the polls.
Taimur Alam Khandakar said, “The people of Narayanganj are with us. We will win in the polls if it is free and fair manner.”
