Rajshahi, Aug 31 (V7N) — Although the election date for the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) is yet to be decided and the Election Commission has not announced a schedule, political activity surrounding the potential mayoral candidates has already begun to create an election atmosphere in the city.

Leaders of various political parties have been increasing their contacts with voters, party activists and local communities while seeking to strengthen their positions ahead of the city polls.

Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) have reportedly finalised their mayoral candidates, while more than half a dozen BNP leaders are seeking the party's nomination for the post.

Almost all potential candidates have said they will work unitedly for whoever receives the party's final nomination.

Jahangir nominated by Jamaat

Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated Dr Mohammad Jahangir as its candidate for the Rajshahi City Corporation election.

He previously contested the Rajshahi-2 (Rajshahi Sadar) parliamentary constituency and lost to BNP candidate Mizanur Rahman Minu by 28,176 votes.

Jahangir said Jamaat plans to adopt a different strategy for the city election. He acknowledged that the party had made some mistakes in the previous parliamentary election by contesting outside its long-standing political understanding with the BNP.

The party now intends to use that experience to organise its campaign more effectively, he said.

Campaigning around Jahangir has already started on social media, while Jamaat leaders said their election activities would be intensified once the official schedule is announced.

Multiple BNP aspirants

More than half a dozen BNP leaders are reportedly interested in contesting for the RCC mayoral post.

They include former mayor and BNP Central Committee Secretary for Forest and Environment Affairs Mosaddeq Hossain Bulbul; current RCC administrator and city BNP General Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman Riton; Rajshahi Development Authority Chairman and city BNP Vice-President Abul Kalam Azad Sweet; BNP Central Organising Secretary Advocate Shaheen Shawkat; city BNP President Mamunur Rashid Mamun; district Krishak Dal Convener Shafiqul Alam Samrat; and city Jubo Dal Member Secretary Rafiqul Islam Rabi.

Among the potential candidates, Mosaddeq Hossain Bulbul has considerable political and electoral experience.

He lost the 2008 city election to Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton but won the 2013 election. He was defeated by Liton again in the 2018 election.

For this reason, a section of the BNP continues to view Bulbul as a strong contender for the mayoral nomination.

However, after the BNP formed the government, he was appointed chairman of the Bangladesh Forest and Industrial Development Corporation rather than being given the post of RCC administrator.

Waiting for the party's decision

Mosaddeq Hossain Bulbul said no final decision had yet been taken regarding local government elections.

"There are five to seven potential candidates in the BNP. Ultimately, however, the party's decision will be final," he said.

RCC Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton also said he would abide by whatever decision the party makes.

"I am always ready whenever the party needs me," he said.

Abul Kalam Azad Sweet, chairman of the Rajshahi Development Authority, said Rajshahi Sadar had traditionally been a BNP stronghold. He expressed confidence that he could win if the party nominated him.

However, he warned that choosing the wrong candidate could have an impact on the election result.

BNP Central Organising Secretary Advocate Shaheen Shawkat said he had remained active on the streets for a long time and that many people had encouraged him to contest the city election.

He said that regardless of whom the party nominates, BNP leaders and activists would work together in support of the chosen candidate.

The growing activities of potential candidates even before the election schedule is announced have intensified political discussions in Rajshahi.

The final list of candidates and the parties they will represent will become clearer after the Election Commission announces the official election schedule.

END/MRA/SMA/