Dhaka North mayor runner Annisul Huq gets support from businesses

Top business leaders of the country have thrown their weight behind fellow businessman and Awami League-endorsed Dhaka North City Corporation mayor runner Annisul Huq.

They think Huq, who had headed the top business bodies FBCCI and BGMEA, will be able to make the capital ‘liveable and industry-friendly’, if elected.
 
The endorsement for Huq from business leaders came on Sunday at an interactive discussion in Dhaka on improving Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry.

Leaders and representatives of all the business organisations including FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMEA and DCCI attended the interaction.

BGMEA President Atiqul Islam said, “The election of a business leader as mayor will help create a business-friendly environment in Dhaka.”
 
“Dhaka’s compliance must be ensured first to guarantee safe working environment in the factories.”
 
He urged all the businessmen to campaign for Huq and help him get elected besides keeping their factories closed on Apr 28, the day of election.
 
The business leaders, including incumbent FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and Nitol Niloy Group Chairman Abdul Matlub Ahmed, raised their hands responding to the call for supporting Huq.
 
Former BGMEA chief Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez said, “Compliance necessitates developing Dhaka’s communications system. Annisul Huq can fulfill that.”
 
“Dhaka will become a compliant city if he is elected (mayor).”
 
Another former president of BGMEA, Abdus Salam, said Huq’s success as a business leader would help him be a successful mayor.
 
Former president of reconditioned vehicle traders’ organisation BARVIDA, Habibullah Don, said, “Annisul Huq is a modern man. He will be able to modernise Dhaka if elected.”

Huq, who has ‘table clock’ as his electoral symbol, said his candidacy was a gift for the businesses from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
 
“The city polls have changed the businesses. All businessmen are members of ‘one family’. And everyone from FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMEA and other bodies have come together now despite their differences.”
 
“Even my opponents during the FBCCI and BGMEA elections are now here to support me,” he added.
  
Apart from Huq, 16 others are running for the DNCC mayor position.
 
The voting of Dhaka South, Dhaka North and Chittagong City Corporations will take place on Apr 28.