BNP’s Sakhawat says he won’t pull out of Narayanganj mayor race

Dispelling the Awami League's doubt that the BNP will again withdraw its candidate from Narayanganj City Corporation polls at the last minute, its candidate Sakhawat Hossain Khan says he will not pull out of the race.

He says the then BNP candidate Taimur Alam Khandaker had to step aside following the party's decision hours before the voting in 2011.

"I will fight to the end," he told bdnews24.com by the end of the last campaign day on Tuesday.

"Please don't tell me anything about the last elections. Shamim Osman was Sheikh Hasina's candidate at that time. And the BNP candidate stepped aside to ensure defeat of Sheikh Hasina's candidate.

"Ivy is Sheikh Hasina's candidate this time. And what will we do to defeat Sheikh Hasina's candidate? We will stay in the race until the end," Khan said.

In the last NCC polls, Awami League leader Selina Hayat Ivy fought the election, much to the annoyance of many central leaders, who backed another heavyweight candidate, AKM Shamim Osman.

Taimur had expressed his frustration after the elections over Khaleda's decision to pull him out.

Ivy defeated Shamim in 2011 with a heavy margin, and she is contesting the elections this time on the Awami League's ticket.

On Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's orders, Shamim recently announced support for Ivy.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday, recalling the 2011 polls, said losing before election is the BNP's 'old habit'. He doubts the BNP will be in the race until the end. 

Lawyer Sakhawat, who came to the spotlight in Narayanganj politics after representing in court the plaintiff of the sensational seven-murder case, started his last day's campaign early in the morning. His campaign continued until the night.

Though no unwanted incident has occurred until now, he still fears disorder and has been demanding deployment of army.

"Everyone saw what happened in the last elections. Even so, we hope the elections will be fair this time. This is the people's hope too.

"We expect the government and the Election Commission will fulfil their hope," he said.