AL, BNP aspirants face rebels in greater Sylhet

Awami League and BNP rebels are in the election race in four upazilas of greater Sylhet where the third phase of upazila polls will be held on March 15.
They did not withdraw their nominations on the last date of withdrawal of candidatures on February 24.
Sylhet district BNP Organising Secretary and Dakkhin Surma upazila BNP President ATM Foyez is contesting for the post of upazila chairman, ignoring party's request to withdraw his candidature.
Sylhet unit of the BNP-backed 19-party alliance in a meeting last week decided to back Lokman Ahmed of Jamaat for the post of upazila chairman.
In Fenchuganj upazila, the 19-party backed candidate Saifullah Al Hossain of Jamaat is facing BNP rebels Ohiduzzaman Chowdhury, Sultana Razia and Aftab Ali.
AL-backed candidate Abdul Basit Tutul is also in trouble as rebels Nurul Islam and Faisal Azad Khan did not withdraw their candidatures.
In Jamalganj upazila of Sunamganj district, AL-backed Rezaul Karim Shamim will face tough challenge as rebel Yousuf AL Azad is in the race. BNP-backed candidate Shamsul Alam Talukder is vying for the chairman post.
In Barlekha of Moulvibazar district, BNP's Abdul Hafiz and Jamaat's Emdadul Islam contesting for the post of upazila chairman. Awami has fielded local leader Rafiqul Islam as its candidate for the post.