Staff Reporter :
The upcoming mayoral elections in Dhaka city corporations started getting momentum as rival Awami League (AL) leaders collected nomination papers from Election Commission on Tuesday defying the restriction of party high command.
Of them, former AL lawmaker from Narayanganj-4 constituency and cine actress Sarah Begum Kabori collect nomination papers to contest Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) election.
At the same time, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who is now in jail on suspicion of instigating conspiracy against the state, collect nomination paper through his PS for DNCC polls.
On the other hand, AL -supported another mayoral aspirant Mohammad Sayeed Khokan, son of late Mohammad Hanif, also collect nomination paper to contest election in the DSCC.
But the ruling party-backed candidate faced a tough opponent from his own party as independent lawmaker of Dhaka -7 and also AL leader Haji Mohammad Selim also collect nomination paper for mayoral post of DSCC.
Mohammad Sayeed Khokon, after collecting the nomination paper, alleged that lawmaker Haji Selim has been ‘displaying his muscle power. “I have filed written complaint against Haji Selim with the Returning Officer. I have the right to lodge complain against him as he has already created reign of terror. The Election Commission will investigate the matter and take legal action,” Syeed Khokan said adding he would seek personal security.
As of Tuesday, a total of 22 mayoral aspirants collected nomination papers from DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Moreover, some 331 aspirants from DNCC and 627 from DSCC have collected nomination papers so far for the posts of reserved councillors and general councillor to contest the elections.
Talking to journalists Returning Officer and Regional Election Officer of DSCC Mihir Sarowar said some nine mayoral, 525 general councillor and 102 reserved councillors aspirants collected nomination papers.
Mohammad Shah Alam, Returning Officer of DNCC said some 13 mayoral, 269 general councillors and 62 reserved councillor aspirants collected nomination papers till Tuesday noon.
Earlier on Monday, AL supported mayoral aspirant former FBCCI president Annisul Huq collected nomination paper and Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu, a life-term convict of BDR mutiny case, collected nomination papers through his lawyers to contest DSCC polls.
Jatiya Party leader Hazi Saifuddin Milon also collected nomination papers from DSCC.
