Nasir runs away with Chittagong City mayor’s office on debut in major election

Nasir, who is challenging Awami League heavyweight ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury’s clout, will now sit in the chair that Mohiuddin had warmed for 16 straight years until BNP-backed M Manjur Alam pushed him off it five years ago.

The 58-year old general secretary of the ruling party’s port city unit has said youthfulness is his power.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Adviser Manjur, who had been councillor for a number of years under the tutelage of Mohiuddin, urged the people of the port city not to vote for a criminal, clearly indicating Nasir.

On Tuesday, when the voting was underway, he alleged that polls were widely rigged and announced to boycott the elections.

The stalwart even went on to call time on his political career.

According to the announcement made by Returning Officer Abdul Baten, Nasir with ‘elephant’ symbol bagged 475,361 votes from 719 centres.

His nearest rival Manjur managed 304,837 votes with ‘orange’ symbol.

The margin is a huge 170,524 votes.

However, allegations of capturing polls centres by pro-government activists and large-scale rigging will surely take some gloss off Nasir’s victory.

BNP’s port city unit chief Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury alleged pro-government activists captured a centre and stamped on the 'elephant’ symbol in presence of ruling party MP MA Latif.

Later, at a press conference where the party announced the boycott, Chowdhury alleged government supporters captured 80 percent centres.

The Citizens Committee, formed to back Nasir, dismissed Manjur’s allegation of chasing off his polling agents from the centres.

The pro-government platform said Manjur did not even send any agent to the centres.

In reaction to the allegation of polls rigging brought by Manjur’s Unnayan Andolan, Nasir said, “I am a sportsman. If someone plays poorly against me, I am not to be blamed.”

Nasir was a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League when he was a student before he turned a sports organiser.

He was the general secretary of Chittagong Brothers Union when it was formed in 1985.

He has been the general secretary of Chittagong Zila Krira Sangstha since 2011.

Bangladesh Cricket Board Director Nasir is also the chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolitan.

He joined students politics under Mohiuddin’s leadership after 1975 but chose a different path in the 90s.

He reinforced his control over the Awami League activists in Chittagong when he became the general secretary of the city unit two years ago.

The powers of the unit’s chief Mohiuddin was on the wane after the defeat against Manjur.

Mohiuddin had been eager to fight for the mayor’s post once again this time but the central leaders had other ideas.

He later promised to help Nasir but the stalwart did not canvass in the streets for Nasir.

In his election manifesto, Nasir highlighted the failures of Manjur and vowed to turn Chittagong into a megacity.

He repeatedly said the Awami League-led government’s mega plan to develop the city would be realised only if he became mayor.

He also assured the citizens of Chittagong that he will end the water-clogging problem.

Even in a press conference on the voting day, he said, “I will fulfil my pledges.”