Dhaka South mayor nomination form picked up for Mirza Abbas

Mayoral contest nomination papers have been picked up for Mirza Abbas, BNP’s Dhaka city convener and member of its highest policymaking forum, the National Standing Committee.

His lawyer AKM Shahjahan, Abdus Salam Azad, acting president of Juba Dal, the party’s youth wing, advocates Mohiuddin Ahmed and Zainul Abedin picked up the form around 11am on Friday from the office of the returning officer for Dhaka South, Mihir Sarwar. EC official Nababul Islam confirmed the collection of the papers.

Abdus Salam Azad told bdnews24.com: “We have picked up nomination paper for Mirza Abbas to compete for mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation.”

Abbas was mayor of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation in 1991 and was the housing and public works minister in the first BNP government. 

Mayor nomination papers for Dhaka South have also been picked for BNP economic affairs secretary Abdus Salam, Assistant Organising Secretary Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and pro-BNP teachers’ leader Selim Bhuiyan.

Pintu is currently serving a life term for his role in the Peelkhana massacre, and Selim Bhuiyan is in prison for his alleged involvement in blockade violence.

Salam and Abbas, too, have cases against them for violence, and have not been seen in public during the past few weeks.

There were also several contenders seeking Awami League support for the mayor’s post of the Dhaka South City Corporation.

Rifts became evident in the top tier when Dhaka Metropolitan unit Joint General Secretary Haji Mohammad Salim and Organising Secretary Sayeed Khokon both picked up the nomination forms. 

However, on Wednesday, following a meeting at Ganabhaban, the prime minister’s official residence, AL leaders said that their President Sheikh Hasina had ‘backed’ former Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif’s son Khokon.

She also reportedly ordered Salim to back off on Tuesday.

Salim flew to India on a sudden visit on Wednesday night, apparently to resolve the conflict.

Meanwhile, with unofficial reports of the BNP top tier backing Salam if they go to the polls, the collection forms by Abbas added a new dimension to the matter.

Abbas was mayor of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation in 1991 and was the housing and public works minister in the first BNP government.

He was also made convener of the Dhaka city BNP last year by replacing Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

Abdus Salam was the member secretary of Khoka’s committee and became the adviser of the committee led by Abbas.

The Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls are scheduled for Apr 28 and the last date for the filing of nomination is Mar 29. 

Although the Awami League has unofficially backed candidates for the polls, no decision has yet been announced by BNP, agitating for a snap national election under a non-partisan government.