CCC Polls: AL focuses on unity
The central Awami League leaders are trying to bring the factions of port city unit AL under the same umbrella in a bid to ensure victory for the party nominated mayor and councillor candidates in the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls.
According to the ruling party leaders, if they can become united during the polls, there is "no doubt" that AL candidates will win.
They have also fixed another goal, which is to bring as many voters as possible to the polling centres, said AL sources.
The politics of AL in Chattogram city has long been centred on two leaders -- late ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, former president of Chattogram city unit of AL, and AJM Nasir Uddin, general secretary of the unit.
After the death of Mohiuddin, three-time mayor of CCC, in December 2017, Nasir took control over the party, which Mohiuddin's followers did not like.
They ended up supporting Mohiuddin's son Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, deputy minister for education and former organising secretary of AL, and a lawmaker form Chattogram-9 (Kotwali).
Nasir, the incumbent mayor of CCC, has not been provided with AL nomination this time for mayoral race. He held "conspirators" responsible to spread "propaganda" against him ahead of party meeting to nominate candidate.
AL on February 15 chose Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, joint general secretary of the party's Chattogram city unit, to contest the CCC polls.
Nasir was also not seen in Rezaul's reception at Chattogram Railway Station on his return from Dhaka on February 19. He said he could not attend the programme due to his mother's illness.
However, Nasir along with Rezaul went to Mohiuddin's house the following day and pledged to work for ensuring victory for Rezaul.
In a bid to create a united front, the central AL leaders have already started their initiative.
As part of that, a closed-door meeting was held at a port city hotel on Sunday evening where AL presidium member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, AL joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud, organising secretary Ahmed Hossain, finance and planning secretary Wasika Ayesha Khan, deputy press and publicity secretary Aminul Islam were present, among others.
Nasir and Nowfel were also present at the meeting.
AL sources said the party high command has entrusted Mosharraf with the task of coordinating the AL candidates in CCC polls, scheduled to be held on March 29.
Contacted, AL lawmaker from Chattogram-8 constituency Moslem Uddin Ahmed, who was present at the meeting, said competition for candidacy is normal in a democratic party. "However, once the party decides its candidate, all the leaders become united to ensure his or her victory," he added.
"In the meeting, all the [AL[ leaders of Chattogram were present and pledged to work together to ensure our victory," said Moslem, also president of Chattogram south district unit of AL.
Asked about the meeting, Mosharraf told The Daily Star that the meeting was held to bring the city AL leaders together.
"I have talked to all of them and they have vowed to remain united," he said, adding, "In the meeting, leaders also emphasised bringing as many voters as possible to the polling centres. I believe, the more voters will show up, the more our chances of winning will increase."
"People will give their mandate to the AL candidates as the government has implemented many development works," the AL presidium member said.
Contacted, Khorshed Alam Sujan, vice president of Chattogram city unit of AL who was also present at the meeting, said party leaders also stressed on keeping a single councillor candidate in every ward.
"The party has already nominated councillor candidates in all [41 general and 14 reserved] wards but some are trying to contest as rebel candidates," he said, adding, "We are trying to convince them otherwise."
"The central leaders warned that if any party leader vies in polls defying party decision, he or she will be expelled from the party," he said.
Comments