Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) nominated Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayoral candidate Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Khan on Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission ensure a level-playing field for a fair and competitive election in Narayanganj.

In his instant recreation after having BNP’s nomination, Shakhawat, a former president of Narayanganj district Bar Association, also called upon the district administration to work neutrally so that all candidates can get a congenial atmosphere to conduct electioneering, reports UNB.

He also urged the administration to identify local terrorists and recover illegal arms from the city corporation area.

‘The people of Narayanganj are very enthusiastic about the election and they want a congenial atmosphere so that they can exercise their franchise without any fear and intimidation,’ the BNP candidate said.

To ensure a level-playing field, he said the Election Commission should withdraw the partisan officials in the administration and replace those with neutral ones.

Shakhawat also said he will make the Narayanganj City Corporation model one ensuring freedom of expression of the people of all walks of life if he gets elected.

Earlier in the day, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office announced Shakhawat as the party candidate to contest the NCC polls with BNP’s election symbol ‘sheaf of paddy’.

Shakhawat, a lawyer of the plaintiffs in the sensational seven-murder case, came in the limelight by leading the lawyers’ movement for the proper trial of the seven murders, including the killing of local lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker.

According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, the NCC will go to polls on December 22.