AL prefers Atiqul, Taposh as mayoral candidates for Dhaka both

Bangladesh ruling Awami League (AL) party has picked incumbent Mayor M Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh as its candidates to contest the elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) respectively.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced their names through a press conference at the party president’s Dhanmondi political office on Sunday.

He also disclosed the names of party-nominated councillor candidates for the two city corporations.

Quader , also road transport and bridges minister, added that nominations were given to those who were deemed popular and acceptable to all.

Incumbent DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon has failed to appease the party high-ups for the nomination.

Earlier on Saturday evening, AL Local Government Nomination Board sat in a meeting at Ganobhaban with Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina in the chair to pick the party contestants for the elections to the two city corporations slated for January 30.

In an instant reaction, Taposh said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working for building a developed Bangladesh for which a developed capital is needed.

He also said he was inspired by late DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq, seeking cooperation from all. “I hope people in the Dhaka South City Corporation will keep their trust on me and give me a chance to serve them.”

Taposh said he will formulate a master plan for the development of the city in line with the Vision 2041.

Atiqul also sought cooperation from all in building a better Dhaka.

 BNP on Saturday nominated Engineer Ishraque Hossain and Tabith Awal as its mayoral candidates for the upcoming elections to the DSCC and DNCC respectively.

Meanwhile, citing internal sources as saying the Dhaka Tribune reports that AL has not picked Sayeed Khokon, the incumbent mayor for DSCC, because of his failure to bring positive changes in his area. He also received widespread criticism from different quarters because of his failure in tackling the dengue outbreak this year.

On the other hand, in the afternoon, Taposh, a three-time lawmaker from Dhaka-10 constituency, steps down from his parliamentary post as per the regulations to contest the city corporation elections.

According to the Election Commission, the mayoral and councillor aspirants of both DNCC and DSCC will have to submit their nomination papers to the commission by December 31.

The nomination papers will be scrutinized on January 2, while the aspirants will have until January 9 to withdraw their candidature.

Elections countdown started

The 180-day countdown for the EC to complete elections has already started as the tenure of the current mayor and councillors of Dhaka North City Corporation will end on May 13, 2020, while the tenure of DSCC mayor and councillors will be completed on May 16, 2020.

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 councilors and 18 reserved women councilors while DSCC voters will elect 75 ward councilors and 25 reserved women councilors.

Profile of Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh

Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh is the son of Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, nephew of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and founder of Jubo League.

Taposh is a three-time lawmaker for the Dhaka-10 constituency.

His elder brother Prof Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash is the Jubo League chairman while his uncle Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim is a member of the AL presidium and also a former chairman of Jubo League.

Profile of Atiqul Islam

Atiqul Islam is the incumbent mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation.

He was backed by ruling Awami League to contest in the by-election to DNCC in 2018 after the post went vacant following the death of former DNCC mayor and businessman Annisul Huq on Nov 30, 2017.

Atiqul is a brother to former chief justice Md Tofazzal Islam and former Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) chief Moinul Islam.

A former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for 2013-14 term, he now heads the Centre of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel Industries (CEBAI).

Kamruzzaman