Get united for party-backed candidates

Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed leaders of all the AL units in the capital to work together for the party-backed candidates in the upcoming Dhaka city corporation elections.   

Speaking at a meeting at the Gono Bhaban, she also formally introduced the mayoral candidates she chose for the April 28 polls 
-- Annisul Huq for Dhaka North City Corporation and Sayeed Khokon for Dhaka South City Corporation.   

Hasina asked all to put aside disputes and differences and work to ensure victory of the AL favourites, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, who attended the meet, told The Daily Star.  

According to another meeting source, the PM said it would be wrong to assume that the candidates will easily come out winners because of the ruling party's support. She asked her party colleagues to keep in mind that the BNP is in the race.
The party's Dhaka city unit Leaders and presidents and secretaries of its thana, ward and union units were present at the meeting, followed by a dinner hosted by the AL chief.  

Senior AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, among others, were present at the meet.

On February 26, Hasina decided to back former FBCCI president Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon, son of late Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif, as mayor candidates.

At yesterday's meeting, the AL chief directed senior party leaders to pick candidates for councillor elections. In this regard, she warned that consequences would not be good if any AL leader take part in the polls violating party decision. And no rebel would get any party post. 

She said, "There's no alternative to unity in facing the anti-liberation evil forces." 
Hasina told the meeting that there are committees comprising central and city leaders to finalise the councillor candidates. She soon would sit separately with the AL leaders of DSCC and DNCC areas. 

Before concluding the meeting, the AL chief also urged city unit leaders to stay alert to “subversive acts, anarchy and terrorism by the BNP-Jamaat alliance” to maintain democracy, peace and development, according to the meeting sources.  

At least four thana unit leaders, who are also councillor aspirants, spoke at the meeting. They said the party should back dedicated leaders who have proven themselves, especially during the rules of the past caretaker administration and BNP-Jamaat alliance government. 

After the meeting, the PM sat separately with senior leaders. 
“We discussed strategies to win in the polls,” Hanif said, when asked.
Coming out of Gono Bhaban, both Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon told reporters that if elected, they would work for the welfare of people.