<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">A total of 387 aspiring candidates including 11 for mayoral post submitted their nomination papers to compete in the upcoming Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) elections slated for June 21.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another 89 are for the reserved seats submitted the nomination papers and 287 for the post of general ward councillor.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Syed Kamal Hossain, an official (media cell) of Sylhet regional election office, confirmed the matter saying that the nomination papers were submitted from morning to 4pm on Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Though 456&nbsp; collected nomination papers, 376 submitted their nomination papers for the posts of general and reserved ward councillor&nbsp; till the last date (May 23) of submission.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The mayoral candidates who will contest with political symbol are Awami League-backed Md Anoruzzaman Chowdhury, Jatiya Party-sponsored Nazrul Islam Babul, Islami Andolan-nominated Hafiz Mawlana Mahmudul Hasan and Jaker Party’s Md Jahirul Alam.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Independent candidates are Mohammad Abdul Hanif Kutu, Mohammad Abdul Mannan Khan, Samsun Nur Talukder, Md Salah Uddin Rimon, Mawlana Jahid Uddin Chowdhury, Md Shahjahan Miah and Moshtak Ahmed Rouf Mostafa.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Visiting the election office, it was noticed that the candidates were submitting their nomination papers with enthusiasm and happiness.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ruling party-backed candidate Anoruzzaman accompanied by his party men also submitted his nomination paper on the last day of submission.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The scrutinization of the nomination papers will be held on May 25 and the last day of withdrawal of the nomination papers has been set for June 1.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The symbols will be distributed among other candidates on June 2 while the candidates will be able to conduct their electioneering.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wrapping up all speculation, incumbent SCC Mayor and BNP leader Ariful Haque Chowdhury on last Saturday announced that he will not contest in the election as his party boycotted all elections under the current government. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>