AL, BNP aspirants gear up campaign
Over 200 Awami League and 125 BNP aspirants are campaigning and lobbying for party tickets in the 58 constituencies of Chattogram division, suggesting a potential rebel problem for the parties in the days to come.
In Chattogram district alone, around 75 AL candidates and 35 BNP men are in the race for tickets in the 16 constituencies there.
AL's notable candidates include State Minister for Environment and Forest Hasan Mahmud in Chattogram-7, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam BSc and former CCC mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury's son Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel in Chattogram-8, and AL senior leader Eng Mosharraf Hossain in Chattogram-1.
BNP's senior leaders M Morshed Khan, Abdullah Al Noman, and Ameer Khasru Mahmud Chowdhur may run in Chattogram-8, Chattogram-10, and Chattogram-11.
JP presidium member and Forest Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud and JP senior leader Ziauddin Ahmed (Bablu) may contest from Chattogram-5 and Chattogram-9.
JSD leader Moin Uddin Khan Badal wants nomination from Chattogram-8.
Tarikat Federation Chairman Najibul Bashar Maijbhandari may contest from Chattogram-2, while LDP chief Col (retd) Oli Ahmed in Chattogram-14.
In Laxmipur, at least 25 AL and 13 BNP leaders are campaigning and lobbying for party nominations in its four seats.
Of them, AL's Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shajahan Kamal, BNP's Publicity Affairs Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rab) chief ASM Abdur Rab are notable.
Besides, a couple of JP and Jamaat leaders are preparing to run there.
In Noakhali, some 18 AL men and 10 BNP men are active on the ground to get nominations in its six constituencies.
Two heavyweights -- AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader and BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed -- may compete in Noakhali-5.
Other candidates include AL's Mohammad Ekramul Karim Chowdhury in Noakhali-4, BNP's Jainal Abedin Faruk in Noakhali-2 and BNP's vice chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu in Noakhali-3.
In Chandpur, at least five AL and 16 BNP leaders are prospective candidates.
Noteworthy candidates are: Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, former home minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir, and former foreign minister Dipu Moni of AL. BNP's former state minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon is also in the mix.
In Cumilla, there are over 24 candidates of AL and 23 candidates of BNP trying to get tickets in its 11 constituencies.
The heavyweights include Planning Minister AHM Mustofa Kamal, Railway Minister Mazibul Hoque and former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru of AL.
In Feni, at least 11 AL and eight BNP aspirants are trying to get party tickets in its three constituencies.
They are: Nizam Uddin Hazari, Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Khandaker Enayet Ullah of AL, and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
In Brahmanbaria, some 20 AL and 12 BNP leaders are in the race for getting nomination in its six constituencies. Of them, Law Minister Anisul Huq and RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury of AL are notable.
In Cox's Bazar, at least 25 AL and four BNP men are campaigning for tickets. They include the much-talked BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, who is accused of trespassing into India, AL leader Abdur Rahman Bodi, who is accused of drug dealing.
Each of the three hilly districts -- Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati -- has one constituency. Apart from the AL and the BNP, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) will have a significant role in the polls in the hills.
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