SCC polls: A tough battle for BNP

With Sylhet City Corporation election approaching, all the political parties have nominated their mayoral candidates, and consequently are getting ready to contest the polls.

However, the BNP-led 20-party alliance is facing problems. According to party sources, the contest might be a “tough one” for BNP's Ariful Haque Chowdhury.

Though former SCC mayor Ariful, also a BNP central committee member, has been nominated by the alliance, Badruzzaman Selim, general secretary of BNP's Sylhet city unit, and Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, ameer of Sylhet city unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, are also contesting the polls as independent candidates.

While Ariful is struggling to negotiate with them, Awami League candidate Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, also a former mayor, has less to worry about as has the full support of party leaders.

Badruzzaman Selim claimed that Sylhet BNP leaders and activists are not with Ariful. “I believe I can win as people are with me.” Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer echoed the same.

Ariful said the two rebel candidates are violating the party high command's decision.

The other mayoral candidates are Abu Jafar of CPB-BASOD and Dr Moazzem Hossain of Islami Andolon.

COMPLAINT, COUNTER-COMPLAINT

The Election Commission yesterday served a notice on Jamaat's Jubayer asking him to explain within today about an advert published in a local daily, seeking public support for him, said Returning Officer Alimuzzaman.

Campaigning before distribution of party symbols, which is scheduled on July 10, is a violation of electoral code of conduct.

Jubayer claimed that he did not violate any electoral rule. “I'm yet to get the letter. I will reply once I receive it.”

The EC also forwarded a letter, submitted by BNP, to Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) to investigate a similar allegation against AL's Kamran.

On Monday, BNP Sylhet district unit General Secretary Ali Ahmed claimed that Kamran's wife and son were campaigning before distribution of the party symbols. Kamran denied the allegation.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Golam Kibria said, “We are yet to receive the letter. We will take necessary steps if the allegations are found to be true.”

Meanwhile, Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, general secretary of AL's Sylhet dist unit, also filed a similar complaint to the EC, claiming that the BNP candidate is also busy campaigning, violating electoral rules.

Contacted, Ariful said he has not violated any electoral rules.