AL likely to pick fresh face for DSCC mayoral post

Although heavy weight candidates of Awami League are seeking nomination to contest the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayoral post with its ticket, the party is likely to pick a fresh candidate having a clean image.

Incumbent mayor Syed Khokon, who is completing his second term, collected his nomination on Thursday while MPs Haji Mohammad Salim and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday for contesting the upcoming election.

Talking to UNB, party insiders hinted that AL wants a fresh face to contest the polls as the current mayor is unlikely to get nomination for his "questionable role" during his two terms.

Mayor Khokon, meanwhile, sought blessings from the people of Dhaka city while collecting the nomination form from Awami League President's office in the capital on Thursday.

"Politics is now going through a tough time. I seek blessings from the people of the country and that of the Dhaka city at this difficult time," he said.

Describing Awami League chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as his guardian, Khokon said, "She'll do whatever she thinks good for me."

Khokon said, "I've done many things for Dhaka city, but there're some other works left unfinished. I would like to finish those, too."

Besides, Law Secretary of the newly-formed Awami League central committee Nazibullah Hiru have also pasted posters on walls around the south part of the city as a mayoral candidate though he did not collect nomination form so far.

Mamun Serniabat, uncle of Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, collected nomination form for Taposh, while Haji Salim's personal secretary Mohiuddin Ahmed Belal collected nomination paper for Selim.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul repeatedly hinted that the party will give the green signal to a fresh face to contest the polls. 

Obaidul Quader also said on Thursday that the party will nominate candidates who can win the election with people's blessings.

Eighty contenders have so far bought AL nomination forms to contest the election for the DSCC mayoral post.

President of Bangabandhu Academy Nazmul Haque and former Secretary General of Muktijoddha Central Command Council MA Rashid are also among them.

The distribution of nomination forms will continue from 8am to 5pm every day till December 27. Each aspirant has to pay Tk 25,000 for the nomination form.

The party will decide on Saturday (Dec 28) who will join the next DSCC polls as an Awami League candidate.

The applicants will have to submit their forms by 6pm on Friday (December 27) for the DNCC and DSCC polls scheduled to be held on January 30.