Eight candidates willing to contest the upcoming by-polls of the Dhaka North City Corporation under the banner of Awami League collected nomination papers today thus kicking off the nomination papers sale process.

Atiqul Islam, former-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (FBCCI), HBM Iqbal, Chairman of Premier Bank Limited, Adam Tamizi Haque, Managing Director of Haque Group of Industries and Helal Uddin, Director of the FBCCI bought AL nomination paper.

Besides, Forhad Hossain, Principal of Monipur High School and College, Dhaka University teacher Jobayer Hossain and former principal Shah Alam and a poet Rasel Asheki bought AL nomination papers to vie the election.

By-election to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral post will be held on February 26. Elections in the 36 new wards, which have been included in DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), will also be held on the day.

The DNCC mayoral post became vacant after Mayor Annisul Huq passed away on November 30 last year. On December 1, the Local Government Division declared the post vacant.

The ruling AL is likely to nominate Atiqul Islam, former-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, as its candidate, while the BNP is expected to pick party leader Tabith Awal, who ran against AL contender Annisul in the previous election.