Awami League chooses businessman Atiqul Islam to run for Dhaka North mayor

The Awami League has named businessman Atiqul Islam to contest in the by-election to Dhaka North City Corporation mayor's office.

General Secretary Obaidul Quader made the announcement after a meeting of its local government election nomination board chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Ganabhaban on Tuesday. 

If elected, RMG entrepreneur Atiqul will succeed Annisul Huq, who was also a leader of the businesses in the sector.

After starting his campaign, Atiqul had hinted he had gotten the green signal from the top brass of the ruling party.

Speaking to bdnews24.com about his plans if he gets elected, he had said “My priority will be to complete the unfinished work of Annis Bhai. My second job will be to ensure peace and safety of the people and freedom from the traffic jam and other menaces.

“If I can finish Annis Bhai’s jobs, a considerable amount of progress will be achieved as expected,” he said.  

Besides Atiqul, former MP HBM Iqbal was among the 18 people who had bought the Awami League’s candidacy forms for the DNCC by-polls.

Hasina and other senior leaders of the party then interviewed the aspirants earlier on Tuesday.     

A newcomer in politics, Atiqul is a brother to former chief justice Md Tofazzal Islam and former BGB chief Moinul Islam.

Two and a half years ago in the first elections to the bifurcated Dhaka city corporations, the Awami League had backed businessman Annisul in a surprise move.

Annisul had headed the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association or BGMEA and later took the helm the apex trade body, FBCCI.

Atiqul was also BGMEA president for the 2013-14 term. Now he heads the Centre of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel Industries or CEBAI.

The last elections to the Dhaka City Corporations were not held along party lines. The political parties could only support the candidates.

This time the elections will be held on party lines after changes in the law, which means Atiqul is fighting with the Awami League's 'boat' symbol.

Among his rivals is the BNP’s Tabith Awal, who lost to Annisul in the 2015 ballot having boycotted the election alleging rigging halfway through voting.

Tabith’s father Abdul Awal Mintoo is a BNP vice-president and former FBCCI chief.

After Annisul’s death on Nov 30, the Election Commission plans to hold the polls to get his successor on Feb 26.

Meanwhile, the High Court has heard two separate petitions seeking to freeze the by-polls and kept its order pending for Wednesday.