‘Rebel’ councillors won’t back down
None of the 12 incumbent ward councilors of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) who were deprived of Awami League (AL) nomination withdrew candidacy, although central leaders warned all rebel candidates to do so throughout the day.
A total of 14 incumbent councilors were deprived of AL nomination this time, of whom 12 submitted nomination papers.
Yesterday was the last day of withdrawing candidacy.
Although AL general secretary Obaidul Quader seemed to have a lenient attitude towards the rebel candidates in the morning, the party's joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Hasan Mahmud in the afternoon warned the rebels of taking tough action.
Some rebel candidates and their supporters were seen demonstrating in front of Chattogram Circuit House, where Quader was meeting with senior leaders of the party.
However, a significant number of AL rebel councilor candidates withdrew candidacy yesterday. EC sources said a total of 50 candidates in general wards and two candidates in reserved seats for women withdrew their applications.
Jatiya Party-nominated Solaiman Alam Sheith was the only mayoral candidate to withdraw candidacy.
Saber Ahmed, incumbent councilor of ward-12 (Saraipara) told this newspaper Obaidul Quader in the morning said there were rebel candidates in Dhaka city polls as well, but it was no problem. "That is why we did not withdraw candidacy," he said.
Asked about the afternoon meeting where AL central leaders asked rebel aspirants to withdraw, Saber said, "We were in that meeting. It was about 6pm when they asked us to withdraw candidacy, but the time of withdrawal was already expired by this time."
Asked why he did not withdraw candidacy, Abul Fazal Kabir Ahmed, incumbent councillor of ward-14, said he was determined to contest. "For mayoral post, I will support AL candidate, but in the councillor post, I am an independent candidate," he told The Daily Star.
According to the EC office, six mayoral candidates, 56 candidates in reserveD seats for women and 161 councilor candidates in general wards will vie in the CCC polls.
10 OUT OF 14 BNP REBEL CANDIDATES WITHDRAW
Meanwhile, 10 BNP rebel candidates withdrew their candidacy on the last day of withdrawal of candidacy in the city corporation polls, slated for March 29.
The party will also see competition from their own members in two reserved seats for women.
Mejbah Uddin Mintu, a rebel candidate from ward-33, told The Daily Star that he stepped down from contesting the election in line with party policy, that aims to coordinate all efforts behind one candidate in each ward to ensure victory.
Shamima Nasrin, rebel candidate in women's reserved seat-6, said she was confident of winning in the election.
"Though I was not nominated, I have support from party members and electorates of my wards," she told the correspondents.
Contacted, Md Idris, office secretary of BNP Chattogram city unit, said ten candidates withdrew their candidacies.
The rest will face stern action from party high command, he said.
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