Dhaka mayoral polls: Five buy forms for BNP candidacy

BNP leaders Asaduzzaman Ripon and Tabith Awal and three others have picked up application forms for the BNP nomination in the upcoming race for Dhaka North City Corporation mayor.

The BNP began selling the forms at its offices in Naya Paltan from 11am on Sunday. The cost of each application form was set at Tk 10,000.

As of 3pm, five applicants had picked up their forms: BNP spokesperson Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, Assistant Publication Affairs Secretary Mohammad Shakil Wahed, previous BNP mayoral candidate and party executive committee member Tabith Awal, former MP Maj (retd) Akhtaruzzaman (Ranjan) and BNP Dhaka Metropolitan North Chairman MA Qayyum.

The forms were available with BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi until 4pm.

Shakil Wahed was the first to pick up his form, with Akhtaruzzaman coming soon after.

A representative picked up the form for Qayyum, who is accused in the murder of Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella.

Asaduzzaman Ripon picked up his forms himself.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the distribution of the forms would end Sunday. Applicants have until 4pm on Monday to submit the forms to the BNP offices in Naya Paltan with a Tk 25,000 application fee.

The candidates would be discussed by a board made of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and members of the party’s Standing Committee at the Gulshan offices of the BNP chairperson at 8:30pm on Monday.

“The board will scrutinise the candidates and pick one as its nominee. The name will be announced officially. We hope to announce a name after the board meets on Monday.”