The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Awami League (AL) led 14-party alliance yesterday formally announced the name of its mayoral candidates to the four city corporations polls scheduled for August 4.

The announcement came after a two-day long hectic meeting of the key-leaders of the alliance at the Gulshan residence of AL Acting President Zillur Rahman in the evening.

The meting unanimously nominated Fazle Hossain Badsha for Rajshahi, Badaruddin Kamran for Sylhet, Talukder Abdul Khaleq for Khulna and Shawkat Hossain Hiron for Barisal City Corporation.

Earlier in the morning, AL central committee endorsed the decision with Zillur Rahman in the chair. But the announcement came in the evening after a crucial meeting of 14-party leaders.

Among the four candidates three of them are AL leaders and one is Workers' Party Bangladesh.

Zillur also demanded permanent release of Former Prime Minister and AL Chief Sheikh Hasina and withdrawal of fabricated cases against all detained AL leaders.

He urged the Government to send AL leader and Former home minister Mohammad Nasim abroad for treatment, as the left part of his body had been paralysed.

Criticising the Government for staying in power for nearly two years he said, " according to the rule the caretaker government assumed the office for three months but they are still in power."

Demanding the complete withdrawal of emergency Zillur said, " No Polls is possible in fair and credible manner under state of emergency."

About soaring prices of daily commodities, Zillur said, "The Government is unresponsive to take proper initiative to bring down prices of essentials.

He suggested for introduction of rationing system, withdrawal of ban on trade-union activities to resolve this problem immediately.

He also demanded the trial of war criminals so that they cannot re-organise themselves.

Despite demonstrations by grassroots leaders of Rajshahi Awami League in front of the party's Dhanmondi office yesterday noon, the AL central committee finally approved Workers' Party leader Fazle Hossain Badsha. Beside this the leaders and activists staged demonstration in front of the Rajshahi metropolitan AL office few days ago demanding nomination for Liton.

Badsha contested for the mayoral post in the last Rajshahi City Corporation polls and was defeated by BNP leader Mizanur Rahman Minu.

In Barisal the AL mayoral candidate Shawkat Hossain Hiron contested Parliamentary election in 2001 but was defeated by BNP leader Sarwar by around 20,000 votes. Earlier he was the Upazila Chairman of Barisal Sadar in 1988.

In Khulna AL mayoral candidate leader Talukder Abdul Khaleq was the Member of Parliament in 1996-2001 from the Rampal-Mongla constituency of Bagerhat district.

In Sylhet AL mayoral candidate Badaruddin Kamran who is under detention now was the immediately last mayor of the Shylet City Corporation.