Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who is facing sedition charges and is in detention now, will contest as a mayoral candidate in the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation election, an adviser of the organisation announced yesterday.

"...Manna will run in the polls, even if he remains in prison," SM Akram told a rally at the capital's Jatiya Press Club, demanding Manna's release. "The election may be stopped, if the government senses its defeat. If it takes place, Manna will be a candidate... We hope he would win."

The Election Commission is preparing for holding the long overdue polls to the bifurcated Dhaka city corporations but is yet to announce the schedule.

Akram demanded immediate release of Manna in bail and a transparent and fair trial for him.

A day after the leak of his controversial telephone conversation with BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Manna was picked up by plainclothes men from his niece's house in Banani on February 24. Around 20 hours later, law enforcers claimed that they had arrested Nagorik Oikya chief.

In the conversation, Manna was heard talking about strengthening the anti-government movement, among other issues.

Addressing yesterday's rally, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, said there should be a suo moto rule from the High Court asking the authorities concerned to explain where Manna had been kept during those 20 hours.

Asif Nazrul, a professor of law at Dhaka University, said all the citizens should raise voices together for good governance, protection of human rights and fair election.