Government played no role in halting Dhaka’s mayoral polls, says AL’s Quader

The ruling Awami League has nothing to do with the High Court’s order halting the bypolls in the Dhaka North City Corporation, the party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said.

Quader made the statement responding to reporters’ queries following the HC order on Wednesday.

“The government is not involved in this. We don’t believe in dirty politics,” said Quader, also the road transport minister.

The High Court stayed the Feb 26 bypolls in the Dhaka North City Corporation and elections in 36 new wards for three months.

The Election Commission declared the election schedule on Jan 9 following the death of former Dhaka North mayor Annisul Huq on Nov 30, 2017.

Ataur Rahman and Jahangir Alam, the chairmen of Bhatara and Beraid union councils, challenged the schedule in court on Tuesday.

The Awami League named businessman Atiqul Islam to contest the bypolls as a mayoral candidate.

General Secretary Quader made the announcement after a meeting of its local government election nomination board chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday.

The writ petitions by Ataur Rahman and Jahangir Alam added fuel to speculations that the ruling party was putting itself at risk by contesting the polls with only one year left of its term.

When reporters highlighted the matter to Quader, he said: “We were due to announce candidates for the councillor elections in the wards but did not do so only because we respect the court.”