13 vie for Ctg city mayor

Bringing allegations of violating electoral code of conduct against each other, AJM Nasir Uddin and M Manjur Alam Manju, the Awami League- and BNP-backed mayor aspirants, yesterday submitted their nomination papers to run for mayor in the forthcoming Chittagong City Corporation polls.

A total of 372 forms had been submitted by mayoral and ward councillor aspirants at the Election Commission Office on Jubilee Road in the city. Of them, 13 for mayor, 288 for ward councillors and 71 for reserved women councillors.

The deadline for submission of nomination papers ended yesterday.

A total of 674 aspirants collected nomination forms for the posts in the CCC. Of them, 18 for mayor, 561 for ward councillor and 95 for reserved women councillors.

“We have got allegations from both sides. We have been busy in form distribution and collection. From tomorrow [today], we will closely monitor whether any aspirant breaches electoral code of conduct,” said Returning Officer Abdul Baten.

“If anyone violates the code of conduct, we will take necessary action as per the rules,” he said, adding that the EC has appointed two executive magistrates for this.

As per electoral code of conduct, no candidate is allowed to campaign before 21 days from election day.

Manjur along with senior BNP leaders, including party Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman and city unit BNP President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, submitted the nomination paper to the returning officer around 9:00am.

“They [the AL leaders] brought allegation against us. But they violated the electoral code of conduct 10 times more,” said Amir Khasru.

To support their claims, Amir Khasru said they produced before the election commission some copies of the local dailies that showed Housing and Public Works Minister Eng Mosharraf Hossain and AL leader Hasan Mahmud promising development in the port city if Nasir was elected mayor.

“Now we are waiting to see what steps the returning officer or the Election Commission would take,” said Noman.

On Saturday, Nagorik Committee, which is backing Nasir, filed a complaint with the returning officer against Manjur for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct, saying Manjur's campaign office was inaugurated at Dewanhat on March 26 where Noman was also present.

Nasir together with city AL President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Chittagong Development Authority Chairman Abdus Salam submitted the papers to the returning officer around noon yesterday.

Regarding the BNP's allegations, Nasir said, “The allegation brought against the AL leaders is false.”

Meanwhile, Jatiya party-backed mayor aspirant Solaiman Alam Sheth also submitted his nomination papers yesterday.

Talking to reporters, Alam said he had support of his party chairman.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Jalil Mandal, who visited the EC office yesterday, said, “Now we will work as per the directions of the Election Commission.” He added that they would do whatever necessary for maintaining peaceful environment.