The BNP seems to be in a difficult situation over mayor candidate in Dhaka North City Corporation polls, as Abdul Awal Mintoo's appeal against the cancellation of his nomination was rejected yesterday.

The party, however, has decided to back Mirza Abbas as mayor candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation, pro-BNP educationist Prof Emajuddin Ahmad told reporters after a meeting with Khaleda Zia last night.

Earlier in the day, Divisional Commissioner Zillar Rahman rejected the appeal filed by Mintoo against the returning officer's cancellation of the BNP leader's nomination for the elections.

Mintoo's lawyers now plan to move to the High Court in a bid to keep the lone BNP-backed mayor candidate in the DNCC polls.

On April 1, the DNCC returning officer rejected his nomination papers as the BNP heavyweight had picked an unqualified voter to support his candidacy.

Under the election law, a DNCC voter has to propose one's candidacy and another has to second it.

Abdur Razzaque, who supported Mintoo's nomination, was a voter of Uttara-13 under Harirampur union parishad which is outside the DNCC area.

On April 2, Mintoo filed an appeal with the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner, challenging the decision.

BNP insiders said the party high-ups were optimistic about the outcome of the appeal. Party chief Khaleda Zia herself intervened and directed senior BNP leaders with legal background to help Mintoo get back in the race.

Accordingly, BNP standing committee members Moudud Ahmed and Jamiruddin Sircar along with some other leaders fought for Mintoo during the appeal hearing yesterday.

They argued that Abdur Razzaque pays tax to the DNCC and thus he is a voter of the city corporation.

So, Mintoo made no mistake by picking Razzaque for seconding his candidacy proposal; rather, it was a fault in the voter list prepared by the Election Commission, they claimed.

After the appeal was rejected, Mintoo's lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokon told the press that they did not get justice and they would appeal to the HC against the decision.

Many other leaders of the party seemed frustrated.

"We have been dealt a major blow at the beginning of the battle of ballots," a senior BNP leader told The Daily Star, wishing anonymity.

The BNP is relatively in a comfortable situation in DSCC as three mayoral candidates it had, including heavyweight Mirza Abbas, were declared eligible to contest the polls scheduled for April 28.

After a meeting with BNP chief Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office, pro-BNP educationist Prof Emajuddin Ahmed last night said Mirza Abbas has been finalised as the BNP-backed mayor candidate in the DSCC polls.

The BNP is yet to decide whom to support in the DNCC polls if all efforts to keep Mintoo in the race failed.

Some BNP leaders are in favour of supporting Mahi B Chowdhury, son of former president AQM Badruddozza Chowdhury.

Others want to extend the party blessings to Mintoo's son Tabith Awal, who had filed his nomination along with his father's and was declared eligible to contest the polls.

However, Tabith's fate also appears uncertain since a Bangladesh Bank official yesterday filed a petition against his candidature alleging that he is a loan defaulter, said sources at the divisional commissioner's office.

Hearing on the appeal may be held on April 7, according to sources.

The divisional commissioner also rejected a petition of ex-BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, challenging the cancellation of his nomination in the DSCC mayoral election.

However, the appeal of mayoral aspirant Rezaul Karim Chowdhury in the DSCC was upheld. His nomination paper had been cancelled by the RO.

Nominations of five mayoral and 203 councillor aspirants were cancelled on different grounds like hiding information, loan default and procedural flaws.

All five mayor aspirants and 163 councillor hopefuls appealed against the decisions.

The divisional commissioner disposed of appeals by three mayor and 17 councillor aspirants. Three of the councillor hopefuls won the appeal.

Meanwhile, election manifestos are being prepared for the mayor candidates backed by the ruling Awami League in the two city corporations in Dhaka.

Issues like water-logging, traffic congestion, and public toilets would be the main focus in the election pledges of AL-backed mayor candidate Sayeed Khokon in the DSCC polls, said party sources. The party is making the manifesto.

In Dhaka North, Annisul Huq himself was preparing the manifesto but he would have it approved by the AL high-command, they said.

The manifestos would be made public soon after campaigns start on April 7.

The AL is also working to come up with separate election slogans for two city corporations, according to sources.

Contacted, Prof Emajuddin said  BNP's decisions, including that of electoral pledges, would be settled after April 7.

The former DU VC also said the name of a platform has been finalised as "Adarsha Dhaka Gorar Andolan" and it would support the BNP-backed mayor candidates in Dhaka city corporations polls with the slogan "Nirapad Dhaka Chai, Parichhanya Dhaka Chai" (we want a safe and clean Dhaka).

On Thursday, pro-BNP professionals, with the directive of Khaleda, formed a platform headed by Prof Emajuddin with the slogan "Bash Joggya Dhaka Chai" (We want a liveable Dhaka).

However, CPB and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal yesterday at a press conference alleged that the BNP hijacked their name and slogan which is "Sobar Janno Bash Joggya Dhaka Andolan".

BNP insiders said their platform would start preparing manifestos  soon.