BANGLADESH

Awami League has advised that one of two Narayanganj mayoral candidates, Shamim Osman and Selina Hayat Ivy, to withdraw.

"Having two party candidates will split the votes," joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said on Monday evening. "Winning the election will be difficult. So we've advised one of them to withdraw candidacy."

Both the Awami League members went to Ganabhaban, the prime minister's official residence, in the evening.

They had gone to seek blessings from the party president Sheikh Hasina, Hanif said.

They held separate meetings with the prime minister.

However, despite the party's insistence, both candidates were adamant that they will win the vital Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor polls, a source within the party said.

The two have held several meetings with top leaders amid warnings from the Election Commission about party interference in the city elections which are stipulated to be 'non-partisan'.

"According to the electoral code of conduct, we cannot back any candidate. Wait until Oct 12," the joint general-secretary said.

Oct 12 is the deadline to withdraw nomination papers from the polls.

The polls will be held on Oct 30. All eight nomination papers submitted for the mayorship were approved by the EC.