The ruling Awami League-backed candidate threw the challenge at a press conference at Khulna Press Club on Thursday, the last day of the campaign.
Recently there were reports of corruption against the immediate-past mayor in several newspapers. Those reports claimed massive corruption during his tenure in recruitment and in combating mosquito menace in the city.
But Khaleque termed the allegations as ‘baseless and ill-motivated’.
He said that a certain quarter was making such false propaganda to tarnish his image ahead of the election. “I’ll withdraw my candidature right now if anyone can prove these allegations against me.”
Khaleque referred to several development activities carried out during his tenure, at the press conference.
“To err is human. Throughout my life, I have always tried to walk on the path of honesty and virtue. You (the media) can criticise me, I will definitely try to rectify myself if I have committed any mistake.”
About the allegations by the BNP-backed candidate Moniruzzaman Moni that Khaleque has devised a new strategy to dole out ‘black money’ in the election, he said: “I’ve contested elections six times and has never conceded defeat. Those who believe in using black money in elections will know better where such money is being used. We don’t believe in such culture.”
Earlier in the morning, the 14-party candidate conducted election campaign in the city’s Premkanan Joragate and New Market areas.
