Politician-actor Nader Chowdhury to contest DNCC mayor election

Politician-actor Nader Chowdhury has thrown his hat in the ring for the Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral election.

He says he is hopeful of winning.

Chowdhury, who appeared in soap operas and theatres in the ‘90s, is the Cultural Affairs Secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD).

He said his party had backed his nomination.

“My chances of winning are great,” he told reporters Friday. “I’m a resident of Dhaka and 80 percent people of Bangladesh know me as an actor.”

Chowdhury wanted to contest the 2014 general election but later thought better of it.

According to media reports, the ruling Awami League is supporting business leader Annisul Huq for Dhaka North.

Former FBCCI chief and BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo, too, had collected nomination papers to run for mayor’s office.

So far, 23 aspirants have collected nominations for mayor election in Dhaka North, Returning officer Mohammad Shah Alam said.

Mar 29 is the deadline for submitting nominations for the Apr 28 city polls.

They will be screened on Apr 1 and 2 while the last date for the withdrawal of nominations is Apr 9.