Khaleda not contesting Bogura by-polls

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 21:35, May 22, 2019 | Updated : 11:51, May 23, 2019

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia attends a rally in Dhaka January 20, 2014.  REUTERS/File Photo

Hours after collecting nomination papers for party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the BNP says the former prime minister will not contest the by-polls to Bogura-6 seat, which was vacated as Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir refused to take oath to his office.

“The nomination papers will not be filed as Khaleda Zia has not agreed to contest the by-election,” ABM Abdus Sattar, personal secretary to the BNP chief, told Bangla Tribune on Wednesday (May 22).

Earlier in the day, nomination papers for five prospective candidates, including Khaleda, was collected from the BNP chief’s Gulshan offices.

However, when party officials went to the hospital to get Khaleda’s signature on the documents, she declined to contest the by-polls, according to a BNP insider.

The message was conveyed to acting party chief Tarique Rahman, who then ordered the party to comply with his mother’s decision.

BNP chairperson’s media wing member Shairul Kabir Khan told Bangla Tribune that acting chief Tarique Rahman had told the party on Tuesday (May 21) to collect a nomination form on behalf of Khaleda.

“Khaleda Zia decided not to submit the nomination forms. Only four forms will be submitted,” he said.

The four BNP ticket seekers are the party’s Bogura unit convener GM Siraj, former chief Rezaul Karim, former general secretary Joynal Abedin and Bogura Municipality Mayor Mahbubur Rahman.

According to the election schedule, the by-polls will be held on Jun 28 and the last day to submit nomination form is May 23.

 

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