BNP to join Khulna, Gazipur city polls

The BNP yesterday decided to participate in the upcoming Khulna and Gazipur city corporation elections scheduled for May 15.

Party's standing committee will finalise candidates after consulting party's acting chairman, said a senior leader.

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the decision after a meeting with the party's senior leaders at party chief Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office.

The meeting also discussed the country's present political situation.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman spoke at the meeting over mobile phone. He urged all to stay united on the movement to have BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia released.

Party sources said the BNP leaders would sit again on Friday.

Around 100 leaders were present in yesterday's meeting and discussed the party's next course of action.

Seeking anonymity, a senior BNP leader said all the leaders agreed that the party's unity would have to be maintained at any cost and there would be no compromise with Khaleda getting released.

Fakhrul told journalists that they decided to take part in the elections to intensify the ongoing movement to free Khaleda.

The party will take part in the polls to continue the democratic process, he said.

On Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda declared the elections schedule for Gazipur and Khulna city corporations.

According to the schedule, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is April 12, while the dates for scrutinising those are April 15 and 16. The last date for withdrawing nominations is April 23.

In 2013, BNP candidates Moniruzzaman Moni and Prof MA Mannan were elected mayors in Khulna and Gazipur city corporations respectively.