Although the party is yet to make its stance on joining the polls clear, the city unit BNP on Thursday extended its support to Chattagram Unnayan Andolan platform’s mayoral candidate M Manjur Alam Manju in the upcoming Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls. Chittagong city BNP president Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury made the announcement after a meeting of party senior leaders at his Mehdibagh residence in the port city. BNP vice chairman Abdullah Al Noman, city south unit BNP president Jazfrul Islam Chowdhury, city north unit ex-president SM Fazlul Haq, city BNP vice presidents Shamsul Alam, Abu Sufian and mayoral candidate and incumbent mayor Manjur Alam were, among others, present. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Amir Khasru said, “We’ve decided to support Manjur Alam as a mayoral contender in the CCC polls. BNP men will wholeheartedly work for Manjur to ensure his victory as they did in the previous election.” Earlier on Wednesday, Chattagram Unnayan Andolan, a platform of pro-BNP professionals and intellectuals, declared current Manjur as a mayoral candidate for the upcoming CCC elections. Meanwhile, ruling Awami League endorsed AGM Nasir Uddin as a mayoral candidate for the CCC, slated for April 28. Amir Khasru said they at the meeting agreed to back Manjur as a mayoral candidate. Asked whether the central BNP gave its support to the CCC polls, the city BNP chief said the central BNP is yet to decide in this regard, but Chittagong BNP will work in favour of Manjur. Abdullah Al Noman will work as chief of Manjur’s election steering committee while Khasru as the chief election agent. A three-time Awami League-backed former ward councillor, Manjur had been elected CCC mayor with BNP’s support in 2010 polls defeating his once political mentor and Awami League leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury with a big margin. Later, he was made a member of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s advisory council. — UNB, Dhaka
