Abbas, Manjur collect nomination papers

BNP leader Mirza Abbas collected nomination paper on Friday as a mayoral candidate to vie for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) polls to be held next month.
"Besides, international affairs secretary of BNP Asaduzzaman Ripon has also collected nomination paper", assistant returning officer of Dhaka South Election Commission office Md Nowabul Islam told the FE.   
Advocate Shajahan, advocate Mohiuddin and Abdus Salam collected the nomination paper on behalf of Mr Abbas.
Mr Abbas, who has served as mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation and also a member of BNP standing committee, is now in hiding as he is facing cases filed against him.
Nader Chowdhury, a mayoral candidate of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), has collected nomination paper for contesting the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) polls.
Earlier, BNP's finance secretary Abdus Salam and the party chairperson's adviser and former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Awal Mintoo and Selim Bhuiyan, a pro-BNP leader of teachers, also collected nomination papers for contesting the polls of DSCC and DNCC respectively.  
BNP will back Abdul Awal Mintoo for DNCC.
The Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for two Dhaka city corporations and CCC elections on March 18. As per the schedule the polls will be held on April 28 simultaneously at the three city corporations.
The last date for collecting nomination papers is March 29 which will be scrutinised on April 1 and 2. April 9 is the last date for withdrawal of candidacy for the polls.
The BNP, following announcement of election schedule by the EC, termed the initiative 'mockery' with the people. But collecting nomination papers by the party's influential leaders on Wednesday and Friday hinted that the high command of the party is now in favour of contesting the upcoming polls.    
BNP will be contesting the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls for 'strategic reasons' with top leaders seeing this as a 'win-win situation', party sources said.
The high-ups of the party expressed the opinion that their movement did not have much impact in Dhaka as many leaders and activists have been detained. The election campaigns might open the door for the BNP activists to start afresh.
The government wants to win the city corporation polls at any cost. If that happens, BNP would use it as a tool to prove that fair polls could not be held under this government and this EC, a party leader said.
He said if the ruling Awami League goes on arresting BNP leaders, then it will raise question about the credibility of the election.
Our Chittagong Correspondent adds: M Manjur Alam, adviser to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, has collected nomination paper for the mayoral post.
"I will again seek votes from the voters of Chittagong City Corporation as the Chittagong Development Movement (CDM), a forum of professionals, has floated my candidature and the BNP has supported me. I have fulfilled most of the commitments I made during my last tenure and they will judge it, I hope," he said after collecting the nomination paper.
Earlier at 3:30 pm he submitted his letter of resignation as the mayor of CCC (Chittagong City Corporation) to chief executive of the CCC Md Shafiul Alam. Mr Manjur also handed over charge of the mayor to CCC panel mayor-1 Mohammed Hossain, who will act as acting mayor.
BNP central vice president Abdullah al Noman and president of Chittagong City Unit Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday announced that the party would back Mr Manjur.
    talhabinhabib@yahoo.com