Comilla Polls Defeat: AL secys want action against ministers, MP

Some members of the ruling Awami League secretariat have demanded organisational action against Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque and Comilla-6 lawmaker AKM Bahauddin Bahar for their role in the run-up to the Comilla City Corporation elections.

They alleged that the AL candidate was defeated for their anti-party role. Some of them even demanded their expulsion from the party, said sources of meeting of the AL secretariat held yesterday.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader chaired the meeting. 

Election to Comilla City Corporation was held on March 30. BNP-nominated mayor candidate Monirul Haque Sakku won the polls, beating AL candidate Anjum Sultana Shima by over 10,000 votes.

After the AL's candidate defeat, AL leaders pointed out that party's internal conflict was one of the major reasons for the defeat.

Following some secretariat members' demands, AL's Chittagong divisional Organising Secretary Enamul Haque Shamim was given the responsibility by Quader to prepare a report on the causes for the defeat. 

Sources said in the meeting, Shamim alleged that Mustafa misguided him during campaigns while party men royal to Bahar urged voters to cast their ballots for the sheaf of paddy, the BNP electoral symbol, a day before the election day.

The meeting also decided to serve show-cause notices on the party's rebel candidates who are contesting 70 union parishads polls, scheduled for April 16. The party would start sending the letters within a day or two.

The party has a single candidate in 24 union parishads while several party leaders are contesting 46 other UPs, said party insiders.

In the meeting at the party president's Dhanmondi office, Quader said those responsible for the defeat of party candidate in Comilla City Corporation polls must be punished.

Briefing reporters, the AL general secretary said he would place the meeting's recommendations before the meeting of AL Central Working Committee, the highest decision-making forum of the party, to be held on April 12.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would make the final decision on the basis of Shamim's report, he added.