BNP candidates Tabith, Ishraq cleared for Dhaka city polls

The Election Commission has declared valid the nominations BNP's mayoral candidates Tabith Awwal and Ishraq Hossain to compete in the upcoming polls in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) elections respectively.

Besides, Awami League's mayor aspirants Atiqul Islam and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh have also been cleared to contest in the elections.

However, Jatiya Party candidate GM Kamrul Islam's candidacy for mayoral race in Dhaka North's polls has been scrapped for not being voter of the city corporation.

Returning Officers Md Abdul Kashem and Abdul Baten confirmed the matter after checking their nomination papers today.

Meanwhile, other mayoral candidates Gana Front's Kazi Md Shahidullah, Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud, PDP's Shahin Khan, NPP's Anisur Rahman Dewan and Bangladesh Communist Party candidate Ahmed Sajjadul Haque have also been cleared to contest the DNCC election.

The candidates from DSCC poll are - Jatiya Party's Saifuddin Ahmed Milon, Abdur Rahman of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, National People's Party mayoral candidate Sultan Bahar, Gano Front candidate Abdus Samad Sujan and Journalist Md Akhtaruzzaman from Bangladesh Congress.

The Election Commission has appointed the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner as the Appellate authority. Candidates can appeal to the appellate authority against the decision till January 5.

The returning officers will scrutinise the nomination papers on January 2, and the last date for withdrawing candidacy is January 9.

The elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will be held on January 30 next year.

A total of 470 candidates submitted nomination forms for contesting DNCC and 569 for contesting DSCC election.

Among them, seven candidates submitted nomination papers for mayoral post of DNCC and seven for mayoral post of DSCC.