The BNP has formed a new platform comprising professionals from different sectors to boost support for the party-backed mayoral aspirants in the upcoming Dhaka city corporation polls.

Formed under the directives of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the platform will be headed by former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Emajuddin Ahmed with the slogan "Bash Joggya Dhaka Chai" (We want a liveable Dhaka).

"We have formed the platform under the directives of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Prof Emajuddin will lead it and we will provide it with all kinds of support," BNP standing committee member Hannan Shah told The Daily Star yesterday.

The BNP chairperson is expected to formally approve the new platform today, party insiders said.

The platform is likely to be comprised of 1,000 professionals whose names will be announced in two or three days. It will start preparing manifestos for the BNP-backed mayoral candidates soon, they added.

At a discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday, Prof Emajuddin said, "People from all professions should be involved with this [new platform]."

Referring to the formation of a 501-member BNP election conducting committee in Chittagong, he said, "If necessary, we will form a 1,001-member committee in Dhaka."

Criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's speech in Parliament, he said the PM could not understand the meaning of a level playing field.

"The level playing field means one voter can cast his or her vote without any barrier and a candidate can go to his voters without any obstacles," said Emajuddin.

Meanwhile, different pro-BNP professional bodies have been split over the formation of the new platform. Leaders of Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad, currently led by journalist leader Ruhul Amin Gazi, recently met the BNP chief to inform her of their reservation regarding the leadership of Prof Emajuddin, a BNP source said.

Contacted, Gazi said, "We are not with the new platform."   

Hannan Shah, however, said this kind of dispute would not harm the platform's work. He hoped that every pro-BNP professional would join the platform. 

Talking to BBC Bangla, Prof Emajuddin, also chief of pro-BNP citizens' group Shoto Nagorik Committee, yesterday said they would request the Election Commission within a day or two to allow the pro-BNP candidates and their supporters to hold meetings and processions for the upcoming city corporation elections.

He said numerous unnamed BNP activists are being shown accused in a case, and they are either in jail or cannot come out on the streets fearing arrest.

The arrested BNP men can be granted bail, or the EC can order the law enforcers not to arrest them during the election period, he said, adding the BNP is not getting equal opportunity in the city polls.