SCC Election : BNP believes that Arif will not be a candidate!

'We will go to the elections in the context of Sylhet' - Sylhet Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury's statement on Monday has caused discomfort in his party BNP. However, BNP leaders hope that this will not be the last word of Arif. They believe that Arif will not go to the polls in the end.

Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury is a member of the Central Committee of BNP. BNP has announced not to participate in the city elections. However, there were rumors about Ariful Haque's candidacy from the beginning, as Arif himself hinted about becoming a candidate in various speeches, the rumors intensified. Ariful Haque clearly announced his participation in the Sylhet city elections on Monday at the May Day event.

The residents of the city thought that the speculations about Arif's candidature had ended with such an announcement by Arif. However, according to BNP leaders, Monday's statement may not be Arif's final position. As a result, the mystery about Arif's candidacy is still "not over".

Sylhet Metropolitan BNP President Nasim Hossain said, "Ariful Haque gave a glimpse of participating in the election on May Day. But has not yet made a clear announcement. I think he said this to stay in discussion in the election market. But in the end, I believe that Arif will not be a candidate.

Nasim Hossain said, 'Ariful Haque is at a more responsible level than us in BNP. He is the central leader of the party. As a result, he may not do the stupid thing of going out of the party's position.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury held a grand exercise in Sylhet city on the occasion of May Day on Monday amid speculations about the candidacy. He organized a grand May Day procession with his followers in the afternoon. On that day, the May Day procession was held by the Sylhet District and Metropolitan Labor Party, but Ariful Haque did not participate in it and held a separate event with his followers.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury said in the speech of the chief guest at the beginning of the procession under the banner of 'Nationalist Labor Party and various allied organizations' at the registry ground of the city, 'We are now in the fight for rights. Our party (BNP) will not participate in the next city corporation elections with the aim of realizing rights. But in the context of Sylhet, we will go to the elections.

This speech of Ariful Haque started the uproar in Sylhet BNP. Many leaders expressed discomfort with this. However, they did not want to say anything about it publicly. Several middle-ranking leaders of BNP said on condition of anonymity, "BNP has been monitoring the relationship of Ariful with Minister-MP and other top-level people of the government for a long time. He is being enticed to become a candidate by the government.

"The government can elect another 'Ukil Sattar model' like Brahmanbaria in Sylhet. In such a situation, if Arif steps into the temptation of the government, it can be harmful for the ongoing movement of BNP.”

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, advisor to BNP Chairperson and candidate of BNP in Sylhet-1 constituency in the last parliamentary elections, said in this context that elections are being held in 5 cities of the country. BNP will not participate anywhere. Sylhet is no different from that. As a result, there is nothing to participate in elections separately in Sylhet.

Regarding Ariful Haque's speech, he said, "If someone says something personally, it is his matter." There is no opportunity to see his statement as a party.

When asked whether Ariful Haque's candidature would have any effect on BNP's ongoing anti-government movement, Muktadir said, "I can explain the party's position." I do not agree to comment on the position of any person.

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