BNP forms 'Adarsha Dhaka Andolan' to back city election candidates

In a bid to take part in the city corporation elections, the BNP has formed a new platform, the ‘Adarsha Dhaka Andolan’, to formally support candidates.

The BNP has been agitating against the Awami League-led government dubbing it as ‘illegal’ ever since the general election that it boycotted.

But the party has now taken recourse to an unconventional strategy to take part in the civic polls.

The ‘Citizens’ Committee’, led by pro-BNP professionals’ leader Prof Emajuddin Ahamed, was in talks to announce support to party-favoured mayoral candidates.

But leaders of the pro-BNP Peshajibi Samannay Parishad had raised objections, media reports say.

Amidst all this, the formation of the ‘Adarsha Dhaka Andolan’ was announced in a statement on Tuesday night.

Former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Ahamed has been made its convenor and Peshajibi Samannay Parishad leader Shawkat Mahmud the member secretary.

The statement, on the platform’s official letterhead, was signed by Ahamed.

The Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong city corporation elections are scheduled on Apr 28.

The forum was formed to work to build a better and cleaner Dhaka, Mahmud told bdnews24.com.

“We’ll try to ensure equal participation of everyone in the city polls.”

“We’ll campaign and urge the voters to elect the right candidates only in the two city corporation elections,” he said.

The BNP’s Chittagong unit has already extended its support to M Manjur Alam who is seeking re-election as the port city’s mayor.

He is in the fray as the candidate of his party BNP-backed 'Chattagram Unnayan Andolan' (Chittagong Development Movement).

‘Adarsha Dhaka Andolan’ will back two candidates in elections to Dhaka’s twin city corporations.

Prof Ahamed earlier said the BNP had decided to officially back its Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas for Dhaka South mayor.

But the party is yet to decide on Dhaka North.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s Adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo has his nomination for the Dhaka North cancelled by the Election Commission.

But his son Tabith Mohammed Awal is still in the race.

Mahi B Chowdhury, leader of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, a party close to the BNP, is also running for the mayor’s office.

Media is speculating any one of them could get the party’s support.

Prof Ahamed told bdnews24.com the ‘Adarsha Dhaka Andolan’ committee announced on Tuesday was partial and that a full committee would be declared soon.

A 13-member advisory council and a 13-strong campaign committee for the forum were also formed.