Narayanganj: Awami League (AL) mayoral aspirant Dr Selina Hayat Ivy on Wednesday resigned as the mayor of NCC, which is prerequisite for contesting the polls.  

Meanwhile, BNP mayoral aspirant for Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Khan collected nomination paper to run the election slated for December 22.

Shakhawat along with two former lawmakers Advocate Abul Kalam and Muhammad Gias Uddin went to the office of the returning officer of NCC election and purchased the nomination paper, a day before the deadline for the submission of nomination papers.

After collecting the nomination paper, the BNP mayoral aspirant demanded the Election Commission (EC) should ensure a level playing field for all the contestants so that BNP activist-leaders will not face any sort of obstruction during the election campaign.

She collected her nomination papers on November 20 and will submit the nomination on Thursday, she told UNB few days back.  

Dr Ivy entered the NCC office, Nagarbhaban, at noon and stayed there for over four hours on her last day as the mayor before resigning as the NCC mayor in the afternoon. She tendered her resignation letter to the Local Government Ministry. 

She come out from the Nagarbhaban at 4:15pm on foot along with her supporters and went to AL district office on foot and exchanged views with leaders there.

Dr Ivy, who also the AL district unit vice president, served the NCC for 4 years, 10 months and 23 days as the country’s first female city corporation mayor.

AL Narayanganj city general secretary Khokan Shaha said they all are united under ‘boat’ symbol in the NCC election. “We can in no way stay indoors after directives from the leader (Sheikh Hasina).”

While talking to UNB, Shakhawat also said, “We don't want any favour from the EC. We want a level playing field where we (BNP) and the ruling party will get the equal opportunities."

Claiming that some 60 percent voters of Narayanganj city will vote for him, the BNP candidate said he will be elected mayor if the election is held in a free and fair manner.

But returning officer of NCC election Nuruzzaman Talukder said all necessary measures will be taken to make the election free and fair. 

Shakhawat Hossain has been working as a lawyer in the Narayanganj district court for 22 years.

Replying to a query, he said his nomination for the mayoral race will not split the unity of city unit BNP, as party chief Khaleda Zia picked him in consultation with other senior leaders of the district.

Shakhawat said all senior leaders of Narayanganj, including Taimur Alam Khandaker and Muhammad Gias Uddin, and party activists greeted him for getting the BNP's nomination and promised to give him full support during the electioneering.

Contacted, ATM Kamal, general secretary of city unit BNP, said BNP activists will unanimously work for Shakhawat Hossain.

He played a vital role in ensuring the trial of the perpetrators of the sensational seven-murder case when he was the president of Narayanganj Bar Association.

At a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the name of Shakhawat Hossain as the party's mayoral aspirant for NCC.