Elections in 5 cities: AL to go for fresh picks in Gazipur, Sylhet
The mayors of Khulna and Rajshahi cities are likely to get Awami League nominations to run for mayor in the coming elections.
In Gazipur, Azmat Ullah Khan, the city AL president, may be nominated by the party, while in Sylhet, Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, who recently returned from the UK, may get the AL ticket to run for mayor.
In Barishal city, Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah has recently been asking people for blessings. But the AL may not nominate him this time around, sources in the party say.
His uncle Abul Khair Abdullah collected a nomination form, and he has a greater chance of getting the party ticket, they add.
Current Rajshahi city Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton told The Daily Star yesterday that he met AL President Sheikh Hasina at her Sangsad Bhaban office and got the green light from her.
"I will collect the nomination paper tomorrow [today]," he added.
It is common knowledge in political circles that Khulna Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque is going to get the AL nomination again.
Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, lawmaker of Khulna-2, recently named Khaleque as the party candidate. Khaleque's nomination form was collected from the AL chief's political office in the capital's Dhanmondi by AL Organising Secretary (central) SM Kamal Hossain. As of yesterday, no one else from Khulna has collected the form.
In Sylhet, Anwaruzzaman, AL joint general secretary in the UK, has been meeting people and asking for "blessings" in the race for mayor.
He also met the prime minister yesterday, and later said the AL "high-command asked me to work for Sylhet".
AL sources say the party is in a dilemma over who to choose for Gazipur City Corporation.
Suspended Gazipur mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam, acting mayor Ashadur Rahman Kiran and Gazipur City AL President Azmat Ullah Khan are in a race to get the nomination.
But none of them collected the nomination form after the AL started selling nomination forms yesterday.
AL leader Zahangir, who became Gazipur mayor in the 2018 election, was expelled from the AL on November 19, 2021, after he was seen in a viral video clip making derogatory remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and expressing doubts about the number of martyrs in the Liberation War.
Seven days after his expulsion from the party, the government suspended him from his mayoral post. The ruling party, however, granted him amnesty on January 21 this year.
Seven aspirants collected nomination forms for Gazipur City Corporation election.
The Election Commission on April 3 announced the schedules of elections to five city corporations.
Polls will be held in Gazipur on May 25, Khulna and Barisal on June 12, and Rajshahi and Sylhet on June 21.
A total of 17 aspirants collected nomination forms on the first day.
Five mayoral aspirants collected nomination forms for Sylhet and four for Barishal.
AL sources say, disgruntled AL leaders running as independents may become a serious issue for the party in the polls.
Since the BNP boycotted most of the national and local elections held after 2008, ruling party nominees faced major challenges from such independents popularly known as "AL rebels".
This time, the AL is preparing for the election assuming that the BNP will not participate, and according to insiders, the top AL leadership will be tough on "rebels".
The AL wants to flaunt its popularity and organisational strength by winning the city polls before the national election.
Besides, the AL-led government wants to show that fair and transparent elections can be held when it is in power.
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