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Published : 30 Mar 2026, 02:09 AM
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has unveiled its mayoral candidates for five city corporations, nominating former interim government student advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain for Dhaka South.
The announcement came at a press conference at the party’s central office in Banglamotor on Sunday night, delivered by Convenor Nahid Islam.
Other nominees include:
• Ariful Islam Adeeb for Dhaka North
• Tarikul Islam for Cumilla
• Md Mobashwer Ali for Rajshahi
• Abdur Rahman Afzal for Sylhet
The selections signal NCP’s push to assert its presence in key urban political contests ahead of forthcoming local elections.
Asif, who served as advisor to the local government ministry under Muhammad Yunus’s interim administration, had long been speculated as the party’s Dhaka South pick.
A key coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement that led the 2024 uprising, he resigned on Dec 11 to contest in the parliamentary elections -- effective the following day -- but ultimately did not run despite early campaigning in Dhaka-10.
Nahid, the Opposition chief whip in parliament, said candidates for other city corporations, as well as Upazila and municipal polls nationwide, would be announced soon.
Sarjis Alam, chief organiser for the northern region and head of the local government electioneering committee, said the party is prioritising city polls to maintain organisational discipline, with decisions on lower-tier elections to follow.
He argued that holding local polls without party symbols would ensure a more level playing field, alleging that ruling parties typically use state influence to favour their candidates.
At the briefing, Member Secretary Akhter Hossen outlined five demands:
• Complete all local government elections within six months
• Do not appoint administrators at any tier
• Bar administrators from contesting in elections
• Ensure neutrality of government, Election Commission, and local administration
• Hold polls under reformed laws without party symbols or nominations
