Staff Reporter
Awami League’s Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh have submitted their nomination forms as mayoral candidates to the Election Commission (EC) to participate in the Dhaka city corporation polls.
Taposh submitted his nomination paper to the temporary office of Returning Officer at Valiant Freedom Fighter Sadeque Hossain Khoka Community Center in Gopibagh of Dhaka on Tuesday. EC Joint Secretary Md Abdul Baten, also Returning Officer of Dhaka South accepted the nomination paper.
On the other hand, Atiqul submitted his nomination paper to the RO’s office in Agargaon. EC Joint Secretary Md Abul Kashem, also working as the Returning Officer in Dhaka North accepted the nomination paper yesterday. Both Atiqul and Taposh were accompanied by Awami League leaders and activists when they submitted their nomination forms for the mayoral posts.
Taposh was accompanied by AL leader Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and Mahbubul Alam Hanif.
AL supporters and activists in huge numbers gathered in front of the community center and chanted party slogans, though EC office repeatedly requested candidates not to chant any slogan during submission of nomination papers.
Asked whether he violated electoral code of conduct, Taposh said, “Many councilors come here to submit nomination papers. That’s why the crowd was created.”
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 affiliate organizations.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) mayoral candidates Tabith Awal and Ishraque Hossain on Tuesday submitted their nomination forms to participate in the Dhaka’s two city corporation elections.
Tabith submitted the form to the EC Joint Secretary Md Abul Kashem, also working as the Returning Officer in Dhaka North, while Ishraque submitted his nomination form to Dhaka South Returning Officer Abdun Baten at Gopibagh.
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.
BNP leader Mirza Abbas, BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Abdus Salam and Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas were with Ishraque during his nomination form submission.
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.
Ishraque told reporters: “There is no democracy in the country, as well as votiolation of rights of the citizens.”
“We will win the city polls,” he added.
According to the directives of the Election Commission, a candidate can only be accompanied by five people while submitting the nomination documents. However, a legion of Awami League leaders and activists escorted Atiqul in a motorcade when he came to submit the nomination form.
Regarding violation of Election Commission’s directives, Atiqul said: “We have not brought a motorcade. As there were other candidates for the post of councillors who came to submit their nomination forms. I submitted my nomination paper with everyone around me.”
Both Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Atiqul Islam have resigned from their respective posts to participate in the polls Taposh resigned from Member of Parliament (MP) post for the Dhaka 10 constituency while Atiqul resigned from his post as DNCC mayor.
The Dhaka city corporation elections are slated for January 30, 2020.
