Tabith Awal gets BNP’s ticket to run for Dhaka North City mayor

The BNP-led coalition has again picked Md Tabith Awal to run for the mayor in the by-polls to the Dhaka North City Corporation.

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir named the pick before the media late on Monday, after the nomination board led by Chairperson Khaleda Zia interviewed the aspirants.

According to Mirza Fakhrul, Tabith was the one among the five aspirants who can win the polls.

“We believe he is the best and fittest candidate. The others were also qualified, but Tabith was the most qualified to win the election.”

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia-led panel interviewed the five candidates on Monday who sought the party's ticket.

The others who sought the BNP ticket were BNP Special Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon, retired army major and former MP Akhtaruzzaman, Dhaka Metropolitan North Unit President MA Kayum and BNP’s Assistant Secretary for Publication Affairs Shakil Wahed.

The Election Commission has set Feb 26 for the voting after the post fell vacant following Mayor Annisul Huq’s death.

In the 2015 polls, Annisul, who was backed by the ruling Awami League, defeated Tabith, who was endorsed by the BNP.

The BNP’s nomination board, however, considered his polls experience as a plus point.

“The last time he ran, he got huge votes. Also, he is young, educated abroad and has experience,” Secretary General Fakhrul told journalists.

Tabith withdrew from the 2015 polls when the voting was under way alleging large-scale irregularities, but got over 350,000 votes.

Annisul won the election by a margin of 135,000 votes.

In an instant reaction to his nomination, Tabith said Khaleda picking him as the candidate reflects the former prime minister’s pledge to bring in young leadership.

“Khaleda Zia had said in future, Bangladesh will be a modern nation led by the youths. Her decision reflected that promise,” he told the media at the BNP chief’s office, where he appeared for the interview as an aspirant.

Son of businessman and BNP Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, Tabith is the deputy chief executive of Multimode Group, the conglomerate founded by his father.

A member of the BNP’s National Executive Committee, Tabith serves as a vice-president of the Bangladesh Football Federation.