Rangpur city polls: JP relieved, AL troubled over rebels
While the Jatiya Party has apparently succeeded in talking its rebel candidates out of the upcoming Rangpur city mayoral race, the ruling Awami League is still facing a difficult situation with two of its rebels already having filed nomination papers.
Meanwhile, the AL has picked its candidate for the mayoral election, slated for December 27.
On the other hand, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have announced they would not be taking part in the polls.
As many as 13 aspirants from different parties have collected nomination papers, and of them, 10 have filed their candidacy for the mayoral post.
They are Md Amiruzzaman from Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Md Abu Raihan from Bangladesh Congress; Md Latifur Rahman (independent/AL rebel); Md Touhidur Rahman Mondal from Khelafat Majlish; Md Mostafizar Rahman from Jatiya Party; Md Safiar Rahman from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal; Md Ataur Zaman Babu (independent/AL rebel); Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia from AL; Md Mehdi Hasan (independent); and Khorshed Alam of Zaker Party.
AL rebels Latifur Rahman, president of Rangpur Kotwali AL, and Ataur Rahman, president of Rangpur Mahanagar Swechchasebak League, are still in the election.
On the other hand, Mostafizur Rahman, incumbent Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) mayor and Jatiya Party's presidium member, was the party-nominated candidate but a division in the party was exposed after Abdur Rouf Manik, a loyalist of Raushan Ershad, collected nomination papers as an independent/rebel for the polls.
Manik, however, did not file the papers after GM Quader, chairman of the party, settled the issue with Raushan Ershad at a city hotel on Monday -- a night before the final day of filing.
November 29 was the final day for submitting the candidacy.
AL candidate Dalia filed her papers with the returning officer on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters, she said she was hopeful about getting votes from the city dwellers.
About the rebel candidates, she said, "The central leaders are aware and will take necessary steps. The party still has enough time to settle the matter." She, however, refused to elaborate on the issue.
The final date for candidacy withdrawal is December 8, while all filed nomination papers are to be scrutinised on December 1 (Thursday).
After submitting his nomination papers, incumbent RCC Mayor Mostafa warned against vote rigging through EVMs.
He, however, added, "The people will make no mistake in voting for me."
Former Rangpur Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Mahbubur Rahman Belal had collected nomination papers but yesterday announced he would not be taking part in the polls.
"It was the party's decision," he told reporters.
Moreover, Kawsar Jahan Babla, a Rangpur BNP leader, who contested the RCC polls in 2017, said he had to opt out of the race this year as per his party's directives.
Abdul Baten, the returning officer of the RCC election, said 10 aspirants have submitted their nomination papers for the post of mayor, while 198 submitted papers to run for the councillor posts in 33 wards. Meanwhile, 69 female aspirants filed their papers for 11 reserved councillor posts.
The RCC was formed on June 28, 2012, comprising 33 wards. Its first election was held on December 20 that year, in which AL leader Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu was elected mayor with 1,06,255 votes.
His nearest candidate was JP leader Mostafa, who was elected mayor in the 2017 RCC polls.
There 4,26,469 voters in the city corporation and of them, 2,12,302 are male and 2,14,167 are female.