Dhaka: Awami League organising secretary Ahmed Hossain on Thursday said half of its rebel mayoral candidates of the municipal election have withdrawn their candidatures.

‘We’ve given the rebel candidates a message to withdraw their candidatures. If they don’t, we’ll take stern action,’ he said.

The Awami League leader said this while addressing a press conference at AL President’s Dhanmondi political office in the city.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Awami League asked the party men, who filed nomination papers to vie for the mayoral post without party’s approval, to withdraw their candidatures within 24 hours.

At the press conference, Ahmed Hossain said, ‘BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia said the government has no popularity. So, with this election we want to prove whether we have popularity or not. We hope BNP will be there in the election race.’