BNP chief Khaleda Zia last night asked Tabith Awal to get ready for the mayoral race in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) polls, party insiders said.

Elder son of BNP chairperson's adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo, Tabith met Khaleda at her Gulshan residence. His mother Nasrin Awal, younger brother Tafsir Awal and their wives were present.

They entered Khaleda's residence around 10:30pm and stayed there for about an hour.

The BNP might give its final decision in this regard within a day or two, said party sources.

Earlier, there were reports that BNP would back Mahi B Chowdhury, joint secretary of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, for the DNCC mayoral race as Tabith was unwilling to contest the April 28 polls.

Talking to The Daily Star, a BNP leader close to Khaleda said the party was going to extend its support to Tabith as many BNP and 20-party alliance leaders are against backing Mahi, son of former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.

HC REJECTS MINTOO'S WRIT

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo yesterday summarily rejected Mintoo's writ petition challenging the divisional commissioner's order.

On Saturday, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Zillar Rahman had dismissed Mintoo's appeal against the Returning Officer's decision cancelling his nomination due to procedural flaws. Mintoo filed the writ petition with the HC on Sunday.

The HC order left the BNP in a difficult situation since Khaleda pinned high hopes on Mintoo, according to party insiders.