BNP's Mannan, Taposh face off in B'baria-5  

 
NABINAGAR, BRAHMANBARIA, Dec 31: BNP's Abdul Mannan and party's former aspirant Kazi Nazmul Hossain Taposh are set for a direct contest in Brahmanbaria-5 (Nabinagar), as both submitted nomination papers on Monday. 

Thousands of supporters accompanied Taposh to the Nabinagar Upazila Parishad premises, where he filed papers with Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Md Mahmudul Hasan, and Upazila Election Officer Swapan Kumar Bhoumik. Outside the venue, crowds of local activists and well-wishers gathered in his support.

BNP's official candidate Mannan also submitted his papers, accompanied by party activists. Earlier, he joined a prayer at Nabinagar Mohila College seeking the recovery of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Other contenders include Communist Party's Comrade Md Shahin Khan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis's Maulana Amjad Hossain Ashrafi, Islami Andolan's Nazrul Islam Nazu, Jamaat-e-Islami's Abdul Baten, and Ganosamhati Andolon's Nahida Jahan.

Sources said, three additional candidates filed nominations at the Brahmanbaria District returning office.