Ctg-8 By-polls: Schedule next week; 5 AL, BNP leaders eye nomination

With Election Commission (EC) set to declare the schedule of by-polls to Chattogram-8 (Boalkhali-Chandgaon) constituency by next week, around half a dozen candidates from Awami League and BNP were trying to secure party nomination.

The constituency fell vacant due to death of lawmaker Moin Uddin Khan Badal on November 7. Badal, also executive president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, was elected lawmaker with the “boat” symbol from the constituency in three consecutive polls, between 2008 and 2018.

Sources said at least three leaders from AL and two from BNP were trying to get party nomination in the by-polls.

From AL, the aspirants are party’s Chattogram south district unit president Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Chattogram city unit vice president and former minister Nurul Islam, and Chattogram city unit treasurer and former chairman of Chattogram Development Authority Abdus Salam, said party sources.  

Meanwhile, from BNP, Abu Sufian, the party’s city unit vice president, and Ershad Ullah, BNP candidate in the constituency in 2008 polls, were trying to get party nomination, said BNP sources.

In addition, Selina Khan, Badal’s widow, is also apparently interested to contest the by-polls with AL ticket, said sources.

Party sources said the interested leaders started lobbying with party high-ups to secure their nomination.

Contacted, Munir Hossain Khan, Chattogram district election officer, said the by-polls will probably be held by the second week of January next year, while the schedule will be declared by the first week of December.

“The schedule may be declared by Sunday or Monday,” he said.

Contacted, Harun-ur-Rashid, BNP assistant organising secretary (Chattogram division), said the party was yet to decide whether it would participate in the by-polls.

“We will have a meeting on Monday to make a decision in this regard,” he said.

However, BNP insiders said the party had decided to participate in the polls.

Contacted, Abu Sufian, who contested as BNP candidate in Chattogram-8 constituency in the 11th parliamentary polls, said if the party decides to take part in the by-polls, he would seek nomination.

“Although my experience in the previous polls was bitter, I am ready to contest in the by-polls if the party nominates me,” he said.

Sufian, however, said there was “no atmosphere for holding fair polls”, adding, “Despite this, we will participate in the polls as part of our movement to free our chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from jail and to restore democracy in the country.”

Meanwhile, Selina Khan told The Daily Star that she was interested to vie for the by-polls.

“The honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, through a representative, asked me whether I am interested to vie for the by-polls. I said I am interested, as I want to complete the unfinished work of my husband.”

“I would seek nomination from AL,” she said.

This correspondent could not reach Moslem, Salam and Nurul as they did not answer calls despite repeated attempts.