The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Khulna

The Returning Officer here disqualified four mayoral candidates out of the 15 in race for the Khulna city corporation elections slated for August 4 as they were found to be loan defaulters during scrutiny on Sunday.

Deputy Divisional Returning Officer Mohsin Ali cancelled the nomination papers of Muslim League leader Sirajul Islam, Awami League leader Alhaj Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Jano Andolan leader Kamrul Alam Mintu and Hafizur Rahman, an independent candidate.

The Returning Officer, however, declared valid the nomination papers of 11 other mayoral candidates. They include BNP leader and acting Khulna City Corporation Mayor Moniruzzaman Moni, Awami League leader and former state minister for relief and disaster management Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Jatiya Party leader Abdul Gafur and Kalyan Party leader Sharif Shafiqul Alam Chandan.

Earlier, 15 candidates submitted nomination papers for the post of mayor, 281 for the 31 posts of councillors, and 47 women candidates for the 10 reserved seats of councillors.

The nomination papers of the candidates for the posts of councillors, including those reserved for women, will be scrutinized on Monday.