Four independent candidates contesting the Dhaka-17 parliamentary constituency have announced their withdrawal from the election, declaring their support for BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman.
The announcement was made on Wednesday evening (February 11).
The candidates who stepped aside are former Member of Parliament and President of the Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) SM Abul Kalam Azad, Shamim Ahmed (contesting with the coconut symbol), Md. Rashedul Haque (pineapple symbol), and Manjur Humayun (apple symbol).
Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Salam, adviser to the BNP Chairperson and chief coordinator of Tarique Rahman’s election management committee for Dhaka-17, said the four independents decided to withdraw after discussions with the BNP Chairperson and expressed their support for him. He added that the candidates would make their own announcements regarding the decision.
At a public event, SM Abul Kalam Azad and Shamim Ahmed formally declared their withdrawal from the race and announced their support for Tarique Rahman. The remaining two independent candidates conveyed their decision to back Tarique Rahman and withdraw from the election over the phone, Abdus Salam informed the media.
