The BNP will announce today the name of its candidate for the upcoming mayoral polls in Narayanganj.

The party's top leaders decided this last night after holding a meeting with some mayoral hopefuls and grassroots leaders from Narayanganj, with party Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair at her Gulshan office.

In the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, more than 30 grassroots leaders proposed the name of district BNP President Taimur Alam Khandakar, said meeting sources.

As he expressed unwillingness to contest the December 22 polls, grassroots leaders proposed the name of former lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad.

Seeking anonymity, a BNP leader told The Daily Star that Azad also refused to take part in the polls.

The grassroots leaders then proposed the names of Shakhawat Hossain, ATM Kamal, Abdul Hai Razu and Mamun Haider.

As Taimur and Azad declined to contest the polls, the name of Shakhawat, a lawyer of the plaintiffs in the sensational seven-murder case, came prominently.

Khaleda said she would pick the party candidate from the proposed names, said Abdul Hai Razu who was present in the meeting.

Emerging from the meeting, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that the party chief took opinions from grassroots leaders and she will finalise the candidate this evening.

Khaleda urged the party leaders to make a pledge to work together for the party candidate. She also enquired about the election atmosphere in Narayanganj and the possibility of the party's success in the polls.

Meanwhile, the scheduled meeting of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader with Shamim Osman MP and party mayoral nominee Selina Hayat Ivy was not held yesterday. However, Quader talked to district leaders over the phone, said party sources.

AL President and Prime Minister Sheik Hasina is scheduled to have a meeting with the district leaders this evening at the Gono Bhaban.