The National Citizen Party (NCP) revealed its picks for mayoral candidates in five city corporations during an announcement made yesterday. Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, the party’s spokesperson and a former interim government adviser, was selected for the Dhaka South position. Meanwhile, Ariful Islam Adeeb, a Senior Joint Convener and previous contender for Dhaka-18, was designated for Dhaka North.
During an impromptu press briefing at the party’s Banglamotor office last night, the NCP outlined a set of demands consisting of five key points. These demands include the timely completion of all local government elections within a six-month timeframe, disallowing administrators from participating in the elections, and conducting polls without the use of party symbols.
In addition to the Dhaka candidates, Tarikul Islam, the Jubo Shakti Convener, was nominated for Cumilla, Mobassher Ali, the Rajshahi metropolitan Convener, for Rajshahi, and Abdur Rahman Afzal, the Sylhet metropolitan Convener, for Sylhet.
Nahid Islam, the NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip, voiced apprehension towards the Election Commission, criticizing the government’s practice of appointing administrators to oversee city corporations. He accused the government of the BNP of politicizing local government bodies and subjecting them to its influence.
In presenting the five-point demand to the BNP-led government, Akhter Hossen, the NCP Member Secretary, called for the avoidance of administrator appointments, the enactment of relevant legislation in parliament, and the assurance of free, fair, and impartial elections.
