71-strong Netrakona LDP body formed
More may join LDP after BNP announces nomination
Jahangir Alam, Netrakona
A 71-member convening committee of Nertrakona district Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was announced here yesterday with advocate Siddiqur Rahaman as its convener. Former BNP lawmaker Karim Abbasi, who joined LDP as its Presidium member last month, announced the committee at a press conference at Netrakona Circuit House. The committee inlcuides advocate Ekhlasuddin Ahamed, advocate Abdul Hannan Ranjan, Nayan Datta and Shahid Hasan Shamim as joint-convenors. Former lawmaker Dewan Shahjahan Chawdhury is also a member of the convening committee. A former Awami League leader, Shajahan Chowdhury became a lawmaker from Netrakona- 4 constiuency in 1986 election with Jatiya Party ticket. He is a maternal counsin of former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar. Abbasi said he left BNP because of corruption by a section of its leaders. He claimed that a large number of of BNP leaders and activists, inlcuding a former lawmaker from Netrakona, may join LDP after BNP announces nomination for the coming election. “Most of them are frustrated and want a wayout. LDP led by Prof Badrudozza Chowdhury and Col (rtd) Oli Ahmed has raised new hopes among them”, he told newsmen. Before joining LDP, Karim Abbasi was president of Netrakona district BNP, the post he held for about 15 years. Besides the 2001 election, he also won the 1991 polls and became a BNP whip in the Jatiya Sangsad. He lost to Awami League's Jalaluddin Talukder in 1996 polls. Karim Abbasi said he will contest the coming election from Netrakona-1 constituency (Kalmakanda and Durgapur upazilas) as a LDP candidate. He will get the ticket as per LDP's electoral understanding with Awami League-led 14-party alliance, he claimed. He also declared Purbadhala upazila LDP committee headed by Anuarul Haque as its convenor. LDP convener Siddiqur Rahaman and some joint conveners were also present at the press conference. Later in the day, the former lawmaker visieted his constituency where he held a big rally Kalmakanda upazila headquarters. Addressing the meeting, he called upon the people to reject BNP in the coming election. He said he left the party because of corruption by a section of BNP leaders and also urged BNP men to join him.
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