DHAKA: The Election Commission (EC) declared a total of 43 candidates eligible for contesting mayoral posts in the bifurcated Dhaka City Corporations elections.
The EC finally confirmed the candidates after hearing the appeal against the decision of the returning officer.
According to the Election Commission, 21 mayor aspirants submitted nomination forms for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Of them, the returning officer declared 19 aspirants eligible to vie for mayoral posts for DNCC. The nomination forms of two aspirants were canceled.
Later, they appealed to the Appellate Authority seeking validity of their nomination papers, but they did not have any positive result. So, 19 candidates will fight for the mayoral post if anyone does not withdraw their candidacy.
Candidates for DNCC are-- Awami League-backed candidate Anisul Huq, former Awami League MP Sarah Begum Kabari, Tabith Awal, Shamsul Alam Chowdhury, Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiqui, Abdullah Al Kwafi, Bobby Hajjaj, AYM Kamrul Hasan, Bahauddin Ahmed, actor Nader Chowdhury, Kazi Shahidullah, Hossain Khan Majlis, Anisuzzarman Khokon, Zaman Bhuiyan, Sheikh Shahiduzzaman, Ganasanhati Andolon chief coordinator Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, Bikalpodhara Bangladesh jopint secretary general Mahi Badruddoza Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazle Bari Masood and Mostafa Kamal Azadi.
On the other hand, a total of 26 mayoral aspirants submitted nominations for the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Returning Officer had cancelled the nomination papers of three aspirants. The Appellate Authority returned the candidacy to one of those candidates. 24 candidates will fight to vote for the South City Mayor.
Candidates for DSCC are--BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, city Awami League organizing secretary Mohammad Sayed Khokon, BNP's international affairs secretary SM Asaduzzaman Ripon, economic affairs secretary Abdus Salam, Aktaruzzaman Ayatollah, Abdul Khaliq, Zahidur Rahman, Abu Nasser Nasser Hussain, Baharane Sultan Bahar, ASM Akram, Shaheen Khan, Dilip Bhadra, Shaheedul Islam, Shafiullah Chowdhury, Abdur Rahman, Saifuddin, Bazlur Rashid Firoz , Riajauddin, Mashiur Rahman, Imtiaz Alam, Golam Maula Rony, Karim Chowdhury, Advocate Mohammad Ayub Hossain and Kazi Abul Bashar Job.
BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo submitted nomination Dhaka North City election mayoral elections. He appealed before the High Court challenging decisions of the Returning Officer and Appellate Authority that canceled his nomination paper.
As appellate authority, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Zillur Rahman said five mayoral aspirants appealed to him challenging the Returning Officers’ decisions that cancelled their nomination forms. Of them, the nomination form of an aspirant was declared valid.
As per election schedule, April 9 is the last date of withdrawal of candidacy. The EC will allot symbols to the candidates on April 10 while votings to the three city corporations will be held on April 28.
BDST: 1221 HRS, APR 08, 2015
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