66 more BNP leaders submit candidature to 4 city polls

Although the BNP earlier has expelled its 29 leaders in Gazipur for taking part in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) elections held on May 25, at least 66 more leaders have become candidates in the elections to four other city corporations–Barishal, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi.

It seems that no efforts of BNP, including expulsion from the party forever, could stop its party leaders form the participation in the elections.

Rather, the victory to 11 out of 29 BNP leaders in the GCC polls, who have been expelled for their candidatures in the GCC polls, have inspired the BNP leaders in the next city polls.

In this circumstance, the BNP is facing a severe problem in the party centring the discipline.

Top leaders of Barishal city unit BNP has sent a list consisting names of at least 19 leaders of the party and its different associate bodies, who have submitted nomination papers for taking part in the Barishal City Corporation (BCC) election.

The leaders of Barishal city unit BNP said they have recommended the central office for expulsion of those 19 leaders forever as they have taken part in the BCC polls defying party decision. 

Zahidur Rahman Ripon, office secretary of Barishal city unit BNP, said those 19 leaders are also being served letters to show cause about why they would not be expelled.

BNP sources said, among those 19 BNP leaders, sever are the members of the Barishal city unit BNP and 12 others are the leaders of different units of the BNP and its different associate bodies.

Md Kamrul Ahsan Rupon, the son of BNP leader and former BCC Mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal, is also taking part in the election.

Eight BNP leaders taking part in KCC polls

At least eight leaders from BNP and its different associate bodies are contesting for the councilor posts in different wards in the KCC polls defying party decision.

Khulna Metropolitan unit convener of BNP Shafiqul Alam Mona said those eight BNP leaders are going to be expelled from the party within a day or two. 

Not only that, he said, punitive action would be taken against those who will work for those people, who are taking part in the election defying party decision.

The BCC poll is scheduled to be held on June 12. 

According to sources, Ward-5 councillor candidate Sheikh Sazzal Hossain Totan, a member of the city unit BNP, Ward-19 Councillor candidate Ashfaqur Rahman Kakon, convener of the same Ward-19 unit of BNP, Ward-22 councillor candidate Mahbub Kaisar, a former joint secretary of Khulna City unit BNP, Ward-9 Councillor candidate Kazi Fazlul Kabir Tito, a former joint convener of Khulna city unit of Swechchhasebok Dal, Ward-24 Councillor candidate Shamser Ali Minto, a former president of the same Ward-24,  Ward Councillor candidate Aman Ullah Aman, a former councllior and a leader of the same unit of BNP and Ward-14 Councillor candidate AKM Mosfequs Salehin, a former joint convener of Daulatpur thana unit BNP. Besides, Khulna city unit BNP’s former women affairs secretary Mazeda Khatun is contesting for the post of reserved seat for the women.

25 BNP leaders are contesting as councillor candidates in SCC polls

At least 25 leaders of BNP and its different associate bodies have submitted nomination papers to contest the councillor posts in the SCC election even if the BNP high-command warned them of expelling from the party forever. 

They submitted their nomination forms on last Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Sylhet City unit BNP president Nasim Hossain and general secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury sent letters to its 32 leaders asking them not to run for councilor posts in the SCC elections.

In this letter, the BNP leaders were warmed as saying that if any of the BNP leaders or workers take part in the SCC election, he or she would be expelled from the party forever.

But, the warning could not stop the local BNP leaders from their participation in the election.

Incumbent Ward-1 councillor and BNP leader Syed Towfiqul Hadi, who has submitted his nomination paper for the same post, said he was taking part in the election as per the demand of his party’s local people.

Like him, BNP leader ABM Zillur Rahman, who is contesting for the post of Ward-18 councillor, also said that he has taken part in the election following the demand of his supporters and well-wishers.

14 leaders taking part in RCC Polls

Although the Rajshahi City unit BNP leaders on May 21 at a press conference warned that those who would take part in the RCC polls, they would be expelled, but at least 14 leaders of BNP and its different associate bodies are taking part in the RCC polls defying the party’s high-command’s decision.

They already have submitted their nomination papers for the posts of 11 ward councilors and three reserved seats for the women. Among the BNP leaders, who are contesting the RCC polls, five candidates are incumbent ward councilors.

Those who submitted nomination papers are Fazle Kabir (Ward-4), a former general secretary of Ward-4 BNP, Badiuzzaman (Ward-6), a former general secretary of Rajpara Thana BNP, Abu Bakker (Ward-11), a former president of Boalia thana BNP, Md Tutul (Ward-14), a former vice-president of city unit Jubo Dal, former Jubo Dal leader Abdus Sobhan (Ward-15), Belal Ahmed (Ward-16), an incumbent Ward-16 councilor and former president of Shah Makhdum thana unit Jubo Dal, former Jubo Dal leader Shahidul Islam (Ward-18), Nuruzzaman (Ward-19), a former organizing secretary of city unit Jubo Dal, Anwarul Amin (Ward-27), a former vice-president of  City unit BNP and an incumbent councilor of the same ward, incumbent Ward-28 councillor and former Chhatra Dal leader Ashraful Islam amd city unit jubo Dal convener Saidur Rahman (Ward-29).

Three other BNP leaders, who are taking part for the reserved seats for the women, are Shahnaz Begum, a former joint convener of Rajshahi city unit Mohila Dal, Shamsunnahar, a senior joint secretary of city unit Mohila Dal, and Muslima Begum, the organizing secretary of city unit Mohila Dal. All these three women leaders are the incumbent councilors for the women reserved seats.

RCC election is scheduled to be held on June 21.