Nomination papers to be filed quietly

A large number of aspirants are expected to turn in applications for candidacy in the Chittagong City Corporation election as the deadline for filings ends today.
Breaking with the past, ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury steps down as CCC mayor this morning to contest the June 17 poll with the support of ruling Awami League.
Nagorik Committee, a platform for a cross-section of professionals, yesterday announced Mohiuddin its mayoral candidate. The declaration came at a meeting organised by the AL-led 14-party alliance at Muslim Institute Hall in Chittagong.
Meanwhile, Mohiuddin's potential competitor Mohammad Manjur Alam, backed by the main opposition BNP, collected an application form from the returning officer.
Manjur was warned not to violate the electoral code of conduct again after his supporters brought out a procession from Chittagong Press Club on Tuesday despite a ban on processions or rallies.
At least 51 people have so far collected application forms for the mayoral post, 732 for 41 councillors and 117 for 14 posts reserved for women.
AL leaders Kazi Enamul Haq Danu, Mahtabuddin Chowdhury, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, AZM Nasir Uddin, M Abdul Latif, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and Ishaq Mia collected application forms for the mayoral post, reports our staff correspondent in Chittagong.
Mohiuddin was yet to take the form.
Apart from Manjur, BNP leaders Dastagir Chowdhury, Shahadat Hossain and Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury collected application forms from the RO's office to seek candidacy for the mayoral post.
Those eager to contest the polls must submit applications to the RO's office between 9:00am and 5:00pm.
The aspirants or their supporters will no longer be allowed to hold rallies or bring out processions on the last day for filing applications, according to the present electoral code of conduct.
Each aspirant can bring a maximum of five supporters to the RO's office to file application.
Returning Officer Jesmin Tuli said many aspirants had already been given copies of the electoral code of conduct along with nomination forms.
They were also briefed about the electoral code of conduct, she said.
MOHIUDDIN TO RESIGN
At a meeting, Mohiuddin, also president of Chittagong City Awami League, announced that he would step down as mayor at 10:00am today, before submitting his nomination paper to the RO.
According to the current city corporation act, Mohiuddin will be disqualified from contesting the CCC election, if he does not relinquish the office of profit.
He ran for mayor in 2000 and 2005 without resigning his post, taking advantage of lax enforcement of the electoral law.
But Mohiuddin has to quit his mayoral post this time before filing an application for candidacy as the EC enforces the electoral law strictly.
A CCC councillor will act as mayor until the expiry of the corporation's tenure on June 25.
MANJUR WARNED
The RO served notice on Manjur and warned him of legal action for violating the code of conduct.
Activists of BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal brought out a procession at around 4:00pm, only minutes after Manjur was announced a mayoral candidate, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
The announcement came at a press conference organised by Chittagong Unnayan Andolon, a platform for pro-BNP professionals, at the press club.
Manjur said he derives strong backing from BNP to contest the polls.
Chittagong city BNP General Secretary Shahadat Hossain, who had earlier opposed BNP's backing for Manjur, said he would now support him in line with a decision by the party's central leadership.