Manna won’t join mayoral race

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, now in jail, is not participating in the upcoming Dhaka city corporation elections.

Nagorik Oikya made the announcement in a press release today, the last day for filing nomination papers to contest the April 28 polls.

His ailment has been mentioned as the main reason for not joining the race.

Nagorik Oikya has also said there have been obstacles and lack of cooperation from the authorities owing to which they could not collect Manna’s signature and other necessary documents required to submit the nomination form for the polls.

Earlier on March 24, Nagorik Oikya leaders collected nomination forms on behalf of Manna to run in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) elections.

On February 23, a group of five to six men, identifying themselves as detectives, picked up Manna from his niece’s house in Uttara, family sources claimed.

Meanwhile, Manna’s wife today alleged that the jail authorities had not provided proper treatment to her husband.

“He was taken back to Dhaka Central Jail [on March 18] before the completion of his treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital,” Meher Nigar said at a press conference at her Gulshan residence.

“For this, we are concerned about his life,” she added.

Manna, who is suffering from acute back pain and has three blocks in his heart, was asked to carry out MRI test by the respective doctors at the DMCH. But the jail authorities are yet to carry out the tests, according to his family.

Meher Nigar called upon the government to take necessary steps for proper treatment of her husband.