Nationalist Democratic Movement candidate Bobby Hajjaj has withdrawn his candidature for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) by-polls slated for February 28.

DNCC Election Returning Officer Abul Kashem said that Bobby Hajjaj has withdrawn his candidature for the by-polls.

Today was the last date for withdrawing candidacy.

With the withdrawal of his candidacy, now a total of five candidates are in the race for the mayoral office.

They are: Atiqul Islam from Awami League, Shafin Ahmed from Jatiya Party, Shahin Khan from Progressive Democratic Party, Anisur Rahman from National People’s Party and independent runner Abdur Rahim.

DNCC BY-POLLS

Election to councillor posts in the 36 new wards -- 18 under the DNCC and 18 under the Dhaka South City Corporation -- will be held on February 28.

According to the polls schedule, the last date for filing nomination papers for both in the DNCC by-polls and election to the new wards was January 30.

The Election Commission announced the fresh schedule as the High Court lifted its stay orders on holding the polls.

On January 16, the court cleared the way for the DNCC by-election and election in the new wards.

The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq on November 30, 2017. He was elected mayor on April 28, 2015.

On January 9 last year, the EC had declared the schedule of the DNCC by-polls and election in the new wards, setting February 26 for the voting day.

The polls were not held as the HC stayed the election schedule for six months. The court order came following filing of three writ petitions that challenged the legality of the schedule.