Jamaat Advances Dhaka City Poll Plans, Jamaat Shortlists Councilor Candidates Hopefuls in 112 Wards
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has shortlisted potential candidates for councilor posts in 112 of the 129 wards under Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations, party sources say, as preparations for the local government elections continue despite the absence of an official election schedule.
According to party sources, potential candidates have been identified in 43 of Dhaka North‘s 54 wards and 69 of Dhaka South’s 75 wards. The selection process is ongoing in the remaining 17 wards.
The names were discussed at internal party meetings, but no final nominations have been announced. Party leaders have instructed the potential candidates to continue organizational activities, engage with residents and participate in social initiatives in their respective wards.
Yasin Arafat, assistant secretary of Jamaat’s Dhaka North city unit, told Prothom Alo on October 13 that no candidate had been finalized. He said some names could be dropped and alternative candidates selected if necessary.
Potential mayoral candidates identified
Jamaat has also identified potential candidates for mayoral posts in the two city corporations, according to party leaders.
Mohammad Selim Uddin, head of the party’s Dhaka North city unit and a member of its central executive council, is being considered for Dhaka North. For Dhaka South, the party is considering Md Abu Sadik, widely known as Sadik Kayem, vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
The party has not formally announced either nomination. However, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman recently introduced the two men as candidates at an event, according to the report.
Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer, secretary of Jamaat’s publicity and media department, told Prothom Alo on October 15 that the party’s central leadership would formally announce its mayoral candidates, while the respective metropolitan units would announce councilor candidates.
He said committees had been formed at the metropolitan level to oversee election preparations, but the formal candidate announcements had yet to be made.
Grassroots campaigning underway
Potential candidates have begun building local profiles through neighborhood visits, public outreach and social initiatives. Some have put up banners and posters identifying themselves as prospective councilor candidates.
In Dhaka North’s Ward 26, Noman Ahmadi has been campaigning for a possible councilor nomination. The ward includes Karwan Bazar, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Green Road, Tejturi Bazar, Station Road and Tejkunipara.
Ahmadi, a member of the metropolitan unit’s shura and executive council and chief of Jamaat’s Tejgaon police station unit, told Prothom Alo on October 13 that his name had been announced as a prospective candidate about two years ago.
Since then, he said, he has put up campaign banners and posters, attended local programs and met residents after prayers.
In Dhaka South’s Ward 19, Abdus Sattar Sumon is working as a potential councilor candidate. He is a member of the southern city unit’s shura and assistant publicity secretary.
The ward covers parts of Bailey Road, Eskaton, Mantripara, Banglamotor, Siddheshwari, West Malibagh, Kakrail, Mintoo Road and Segunbagicha.
Sumon told Prothom Alo that he had been meeting local community leaders and residents and participating in social activities since his name was announced. He said he had also organized initiatives including medical camps and mosquito-control activities, while trying to address problems raised by residents.
Election timetable remains uncertain
Jamaat had planned to prepare for local government elections alongside the national parliamentary polls and has repeatedly called for local elections since the political upheaval following the mass uprising.
Although the government has made statements at various times about holding local government elections, the schedule for the Dhaka city corporation polls remains unclear.
On October 12, the Election Commission finalized a five-phase schedule for union parishad elections. Under the announced timetable, voting is scheduled for January 21, February 4, April 29, May 13 and May 27 next year.
The commission has not announced dates for the Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporation elections.
For now, Jamaat’s potential candidates are continuing their local outreach while the party completes its screening process. Their final nominations will depend on formal decisions by the party’s central and metropolitan leadership.
