After the meeting with Hasnat Abdullah, former mayor Manzoor again discussed

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Former Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation Mohammad Manjur Alam has again come to the discussion in the political arena. This new discussion revolves around the rumor that he may be a candidate for the post of mayor in the upcoming city corporation elections.

The issue has become more pressing especially after the meeting with National Citizen Party (NCP) leader and Member of Parliament from Comilla-4 Constituency Hasnat Abdullah at Manzoor Alam’s residence in Kattali area of ​​the city last Tuesday. Discussions are going on in political circles whether he can be a candidate of NCP or not. Although the party leaders are not saying anything about it publicly, informal discussions suggest that the issue is being discussed at the party level.

The leaders and activists are putting forward Shahadat Hossain, the current mayor, as a possible candidate of BNP in the Chittagong City Corporation elections. He is the only potential candidate from the party so far. On the other hand, since the activities of Awami League are banned, if there is no independent candidate from the party, the candidate of Jamaat-e-Islami or NCP can be his main rival. As there is an agreement between the NCP and the Jamaat at the national level, the politicians believe that it may have an impact on the local elections as well. In that case, if the NCP gives a strong candidate, the contest may be tough.

According to political analysts, it could be a ‘challenge’ for BNP if Manzoor Alam becomes NCP’s candidate. He has a personal ‘vote bank’ as he has been involved in various charitable and religious activities for a long time. Besides, as he was elected councilor with the support of Awami League in the past, he can get the sympathy of a part of the supporters of the party. If Awami League’s support goes to him in the current political reality, it may strengthen his position.

There was a lot of discussion about the inscription ‘Courtesy of Manjur Alam’ on the water bottle used in an iftar party of NCP in Chittagong last Ramadan. In continuation of that incident, new speculations have started about the closeness of the two sides based on his meeting with the NCP leader.

NCP Chittagong Metropolitan Coordinator and Head of Media Cell Riduan Hridoy told Prothom Alo that this is a courtesy meeting. There is no concrete information yet that Manzoor Alam is joining NCP. Centrally, no decision has been made on whether there will be an alliance in the local elections or not.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Mohammad Shahjahan also told Prothom Alo that since there is no party symbol in local elections, there is no possibility of an alliance with NCP for the time being.

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Manjur Alam has come to the discussion several times despite announcing his withdrawal from politics. At a meeting organized in front of Kattali’s house at the end of last January, he sought votes for BNP. This raises the question in the political arena, is he active again in BNP.

Before this, the construction of Begum Khaleda Zia Jame Masjid funded by him, BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s grave pilgrimage also brought him into discussion.

Manjur Alam participated as an independent candidate in Chittagong-10 (Doublemooring-Pahartali) constituency in 2024 parliamentary elections. However, on the day of the election, he boycotted the election. Earlier, he tried to seek nomination from Awami League in 2018 and 2020, but did not get the nomination.

Manzoor Alam’s political journey is long. His father Abdul Hakim, a contractor, was the president of Pahartali Ward Awami League. He himself was elected councilor with the support of Awami League. Later in 2010, with the support of BNP, he was elected the mayor of Chittagong City Corporation by defeating the then mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury by a margin of about one lakh votes. After that he got the responsibility of BNP Chairperson’s advisor.

However, after the defeat in the 2015 city corporation elections, he announced to quit politics. Later, he was also seen in activities close to Awami League.

When asked about the latest situation, Manjur Alam told Prothom Alo, ‘Parliament member Hasnat Abdullah came to Chittagong. Later he came to visit my house. It is a courtesy meeting, nothing more.’ He said about the possibility of participating in the election as an NCP candidate, ‘We have not discussed any political issues.’