Dhaka: BNP senior leaders are planning to carry out frantic campaigns in the field for their party’s mayoral candidates as it thinks the municipal election is a great chance for it to revitalise its demoralised leaders and activists.

Talking to UNB some party senior leaders said many of their leaders and activists are still on the run in fear of arrest and ‘reprisal by ruling party men’.

They think if the central leaders visit different municipalities and conduct electioneering, then the scared party men will regain courage to return to their areas and take part in the campaign.

Under the circumstances, they said, BNPchairperson Khaleda Zia will form 19 teams headed by party senior leaders after her Thursday’s meeting with standing committee members to work for BNP candidates and carry out electioneering. The campaign may kick off on Monday, a day after the expiry of deadline for the withdrawal of nomination papers.

BNP senior leaders said they are now mainly busy formulating strategies for polls campaign and reaching an understanding with the party’s rebel candidates to persuade them to withdraw their nomination papers. They, however, said their party is not that much interested in reaching an understanding with Jamaat over sharing of mayoral posts.

According to BNP, it has now only 27 valid rebel contestants vying for the mayoral posts after the scrutiny of nomination papers, while nearly 30 Jamaat men are also there in the race in different areas as valid independent candidates since the party has no registration with the Election Commission.

Contacted, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said their party leaders are working to persuade the rebel candidates to quit the election race. ‘We’re seriously dealing with the issue.

We hope all the dissident contestants will withdraw their nominations in time.’

Asked whether there is any chance of understanding with Jamaat over mayoral post sharing with its independent candidates, Fakhrul said he has no clear idea about it.

A BNP standing committee member, wishing anonymity said, there is apparently no possibility of reaching any understanding with the Islamist party as it wants more than 20 mayoral posts. ‘But, we’re not ready to share over 10.’

BNP joint secretary M Shahjahan said, ‘We’ve joined the polls as part of our movement strategy. The central leaders will be there in the field for carrying out polls campaign for our candidates and motivate our party men to be active braving any obstacle.’

Shahjahan said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will form several teams with central and senior leaders to work for their candidates in all municipalities.

Asked whether their party chief Khaleda Zia will take part in the electioneering, he said she will decide it within a few days depending on the prevailing circumstances.

A BNP leader close to Khaleda preferring not to be named said she is not interested in electioneering on security and health grounds.

He said Khaleda is regularly collecting information from fields through party’s leaders and keeping in touch with the leaders responsible for steering the polls and giving them necessary directions.

The BNP leader said most party leaders suggested Khaleda to be there in the election race till the last minute whatever may be the results. ‘She also looks convinced by the party leaders. Madam

(Khaleda) will discuss it with the party’s standing committee members Thursday night.’