Bikalpa Dhara-backed mayoral candidate for the forthcoming Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) elections Mahi B Chowdhury launched his election campaign on Wednesday with a promise to build a ‘safe, vibrant and enlightened’ Dhaka.

Mahi came up with the commitment at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club where he formally kicked off his electioneering for the mayoral race.

Asked about the much-speculated chance of his getting the support of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, he said, ‘I didn’t have any formal talks with Khaleda Zia or Tarique Rahman on the issue.’

He, however, noted that he still expects BNP to back him in the mayoral race.

‘I believe in nationalist ideology and was brought up believing in it. I respect Bangabandhu, while at the same time Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman is my political ideology and conscience,’ he said.

The mayoral candidate also termed him a candidate of ‘the generation’ and hoped for unity among people on some common issues.

‘As I’m contesting the election being a representative of the generation, the two leaders (Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia) are like mothers to us; and definitely I would seek support from them. I seek support from all,’ he said.

He also vowed to continue his fight against corruption.

Mahi B Chowdhury is expected to make his manifesto public for the mayoral race on 13 April.

Nineteen candidates, including Awami League-backed Annisul Haque, Jatiya Party-backed Bahauddin Ahmed Babul, Ganasanghati Andolon-backed Zonayed Saki, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB)-backed Abdullah Al Kafi, Bobby Hajjaz, Tabith Awal, Sara Hossain Kabari, are contesting the DNCC elections as mayoral candidates.