Atiqul Islam has started campaign to contest the forthcoming by-polls to the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) as an Awami League candidate.
The former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) told UNB on Monday that top-level of the ruling party gave him a green signal.
He said he has started campaign in different parts of DNCC since Saturday following the 'direction of the Awami League high command'.
Out of eight MPs of the area, Atiqul said, he has already talked to five of them -- AKM Rahmatullah, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Asaduzzaman Khan, Kamal Ahmed Majumder and Aslamul Haque -- and "won their support".
Atiqul also said he want to complete unfinished work of late Mayor Annisul Huq.
BNP, however, is following a go-slow policy over the by-polls as the party does not want to disclose the name of its candidate before the announcement of the schedule for strategic reasons.
On the contrary, party sources said they are not worried about its candidate as it is almost decided to pick Tabith Awal as its candidate for the by-polls.
Tabith was not available for his comment as he is now in Sweden on a business tour.
Tabith will return home on Wednesday from Sweden and start campaign if the party high-command gives him the signal.
Contacted, BNP Vice Chairman and Tabith's father Abdul Awal Mintoo said there has been no serious discussion in the party about the candidate for the by-polls.
"As I know, so far, the party has a decision to nominate Tabith as its mayoral candidate again. I also don't find any reason to change the candidate."
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said their policymakers decided to join the by-polls and they are working on selecting the party candidate.
Asked whether they are going to install Tabith as the party candidate, he said, they will talk about it in due time.
A BNP standing committee member, wishing anonymity, said their party will talk about its party candidate once the Election Commission announces the schedule for the by-polls.
He, however, said they are working out the election strategies to ensure victory for their mayoral candidate and thus demonstrate its popularity before other city polls and the national election.