BNP’s participation in Dhaka city polls depends on atmosphere: Fakhrul
The Election Commission has announced the schedule for Dhaka north and south city corporation elections hurriedly to ensure the victory of the ruling party-backed candidates, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.
“We think that the election commission would hatch its old-plan to win the ruling party candidates and thus it hurriedly announced the schedule,” Fakhrul, told journalists while addressing a press conference at party chairperson’s Gulshan office today.
Earlier, Fakhrul held a meeting of the party’s national standing committee, the highest policy-making body of the party and discussed the country’s current political situation including polls in the two city corporations.
“We will participate in the election. But everything will depend upon the electoral atmosphere,” the BNP leader said at the press conference.
Raising objection to the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), Fakhrul said, “We are against the use of EVMs as there is a huge chance to manipulate and control results of the election through the EVMs.”
Fakhrul said that selling of nomination forms for the mayoral posts will be started from December 26 and those will have to be submitted by December 27.
Interview of the nomination seekers will begin at party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office from December 28, he said.
JP to start distribution of nomination from Dec 23
Besides, the main opposition in parliament Jatiya Party today announced to start distribution of nomination forms from tomorrow among the party’s interested mayoral and councillor candidates for the polls.
The form can be collected from the party president’s Banani office from December 23 to December 27.
After filling up of the forms, the prospective JP leaders will have to submit the forms by December 27, the party said in a press release.
Interview of the prospective candidates will be held on December 29 at the party chairman’s office while the list of candidates will be declared on December 30, said the release.
The party nominated candidates will be able to submit their nomination papers to the election office on December 31.
Meanwhile, JP chairman and deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader at a programme in the capital said JP candidates will remain in the election field till the end of the election.
He also said JP will consider if Awami League gives them any proposal to participate in the polls under an alliance.
AL will also start distributing nomination papers among the party’s prospective candidates from tomorrow.
The polls of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will be held on January 30 next.
As per the schedule, the last date for nomination paper submission is December 31, nomination paper scrutiny will be held on January 2 and the deadline for candidature withdrawal is January 9.
Voting at all centres of the two city corporations will be held with electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The last date for submitting nomination papers is December 31 and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is January 9.
The EC will scrutinise nomination papers on January 2.
According to the EC, the two city corporations have over 54.02 lakh voters -- 30.35 lakh in DNCC and 23.67 lakh in DSCC -- to cast their votes in the elections.
Along with electing the mayors, DNCC voters will also elect 54 ward councillors and 18 reserved women councillors while DSCC voters will elect 75 ward councillors and 25 reserved women councillors.
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