Two platforms of civil society members affiliated with Awami League and BNP were created yesterday to support the campaigns of the party-blessed candidates for the April 28 city corporation elections in Dhaka.

Versatile writer Syed Shamsul Haque and cultural personality Golam Quddus have been made convenor and member-secretary of 146-member "Dhaka Nagorik Samaj".

With the slogan, "Build modern Dhaka in the sprit of the Liberation War," the pro-AL platform will support the campaigns of Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon, mayoral aspirants for Dhaka north and south city corporation respectively.

Addressing a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity, Syed Shamsul Haque said, "We think Dhaka dwellers will not choose anyone of any party that undermines Liberation War's sprit."

Film director Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, theatre personality Ramendu Majumdar, novelist Panna Kaiser, actor Syed Hasan Imam, and martyr Dr Alim Chowdhury's widow Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury are also on the committee.

The pro-BNP "Adarsha Dhaka Andolon" of 1,001 members will be led by former vice chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, and journalist leader Shawkat Mahmud as convener and member-secretary.

Its creation was announced through a media release.

There will be different committees and sub-committees under the platform.

It has a 10-member steering committee including lawyer Khandakar Mahbub Hossain, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury, Prof Mahbub Ullah, Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, senior journalist Mahfuz Ullah, Akhter Hossain, journalist Abdul Hai Sikhdar,