BNP tries to woo Taimur into joining NCC polls

BNP is finding it difficult to pick a suitable mayor candidate for the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election as the most prospective one, Taimur Alam Khondaker, expressed unwillingness to participate, said party insiders.

The Awami League (AL) is in a better position having already fixed its candidate, Selina Hayat Ivy, the present mayor of NCC. 

A day after BNP announced to participate in the election, Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday night held a meeting with top leaders of Narayanganj at her Gulshan office in the capital.

Amidst the presence of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior leaders, Taimur explained that his decision was based on the ruling AL and Election Commission's (EC) past record.

“I have clearly told madam that I do not want to contest the polls under present circumstances,” Taimur, president of Narayanganj district BNP, told The Daily Star.

“I have told her that in the previous local body polls, we have seen how the Awami League men had rigged the election, how they altered the polls result in their favour,” he added.

Taimur said participating in the polls under the present “subservient” EC means an obvious defeat as the ruling AL would want to win at any cost using the administration and police.

Explaining his past experience working for the BNP-nominated candidates in union parishad and upazila parishad election, Taimur also told Khaleda that the EC took no action even after they placed evidence of polls irregularities before it.

“I cannot jump in a river when I know for sure that I will die. It would take crores of money to contest in the city corporation election. Why will I waste the money when I know the result,” said Taimur, also an adviser of the BNP chairperson.

Khaleda informed Taimur about her party's evaluation that the BNP candidate may win the election due to internal conflict in the local AL and anti-government sentiment.

“I remain in the field and I have firsthand experience on how the local body elections were held,” responded Taimur.

“Madam, we were not even provided necessary papers by local police and local election office for appealing with the election commission against vote rigging and irregularities,” he added.

After the meeting, lasting over one hour, Khaleda insisted that Taimur prepare for contesting in the NCC polls, albeit till the party finds another suitable candidate.

“Madam has asked me to get prepared for the polls. I will have no option but to contest the city corporation election if madam finally chooses me,” Taimur added. 

In the last NCC polls, BNP-backed Taimur contested for the mayoral post. Sources close to him said he became very upset after being forced to withdraw his candidacy just a day before the election.