BNP eyes incumbent administrators for mayoral race

The incumbent administrators of 11 city corporations are on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)’s priority list for mayoral nominations in the upcoming city corporation elections.

They were appointed a week after the BNP formed the government following its landslide victory in the 12 February election, thanks to their affiliation with the ruling party. At the time, only the mayor of Chattogram, among the country’s 12 city corporations, retained his mayorship after securing it through a court verdict following the ouster of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.

According to a BNP Standing Committee member who wished to remain anonymous, the party is planning to nominate several incumbent administrators as its mayoral candidates in the city corporation polls.

“The move is part of the party’s strategy to field candidates with administrative experience and greater public visibility as it prepares for the highly anticipated city corporation elections,” the senior leader told the Daily Sun on Wednesday.

The party has already started assessing the popularity and performance of the administrators in their respective cities, as it believes their direct involvement in civic management and development activities could give them an advantage over other aspirants seeking party nominations, he added.

The incumbent administrators are Shafiqul Islam Khan at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Abdus Salam at Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Shawkat Hossain Sarkar at Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), Nazrul Islam Manju at Khulna City Corporation (KCC), Mahfuzur Rahman Riton at Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury at Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), Bilkis Akhtar Jahan Shirin at Barishal City Corporation (BCC), Mahfuz Un Nabi Chowdhury at Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC), Rukonuzzaman Rokon at Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC), Yusuf Molla at Cumilla City Corporation (CuCC) and Sakhawat Hossain Khan at Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC).

Dr Shahadat Hossain, who is also affiliated with the BNP, is currently performing the duties of mayor at Chattogram City Corporation (CCC).

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the main opposition party in Parliament, has finalised 12 mayoral candidates for the upcoming polls, focusing on younger contenders.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), one of Jamaat’s key political allies, has also finalised its candidates for five city corporations.

However, the ruling BNP has so far made no formal announcement in this regard, sparking speculation among leaders and activists at the grassroots level.

When contacted, another Standing Committee member of the ruling party said the incumbent city administrators had already been informally introduced to voters as prospective mayoral candidates in their respective areas, and that their performance, integrity, dedication, public engagement and popularity would determine their fate.

The party may also consider alternative contenders in cases where its preferred administrators fail to meet expectations, the BNP leader said, adding that it is also working to ensure a single candidate in each city corporation. Speaking to the Daily Sun, DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam expressed confidence about securing the party nomination.

“The party must have had a reason for appointing me as administrator, and I have already fulfilled the party’s agenda,” Salam said, adding that he had already begun a mass-contact campaign as a prospective BNP mayoral candidate for the DSCC.

DNCC Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan echoed his DSCC counterpart when asked about his chances of securing the party nomination.

Party sources also confirmed that the two administrators in Dhaka have unofficially been instructed to prepare for the polls as BNP candidates. When contacted, RCC Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton also expressed confidence about securing the party nomination.

“I became one of the youngest and most junior leaders to hold this level of responsibility when I assumed office at the age of 48. My party considered me capable of holding this post, and if it deems me fit to serve as mayor, it may give me that opportunity as well,” he said.

Riton, who is also the general secretary of the city unit of the BNP, said he hoped to play his due role from whatever position he was entrusted with in upholding the party’s ideals and implementing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s 31-point agenda.

Although the local government elections are expected to be held without party symbols, the BNP plans to provide formal backing and organisational support to its nominated candidates, the source said.