JP camp heats up over nominations
Jatiya Party’s politics is heating up in Rangpur since the announcement of by-election schedule to Rangpur-3, that fell vacant with the death of party leader HM Ershad.
A clash broke out on Monday night between two factions over party tickets, which left seven people injured, said party sources. According to party insiders, discord has been boiling since Ershad’s son and niece collected party tickets to contest in the race, without discussing with dedicated grassroots leaders.
Ershad’s son Rahgir Al Mahi Saad and niece Mehezebunnessa Rahman Tumpa collected forms for party nomination on Tuesday, while Ershad’s nephew Hossain Mokbul Shahriar Asif is also an aspirant in the race, although he was expelled from the party for violating rules.
On the other hand, JP presidium member SM Fakhar Uzzaman Jahangir, and central committee’s joint secretary general SM Yasir also collected party tickets on Tuesday. Abdur Razzaq, secretary general of the party’s district unit and organisational secretary of the central committee, collected nomination forms yesterday.
JP chairman GM Quader has urged party leaders to work for whoever is the nominated candidate, said party insiders.
However, Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, also president of the party’s metropolitan unit and a presidium member, has sharply reacted over Saad’s nomination collection.
He said party leaders of Rangpur will not stand by Saad, if he is nominated.
“There are three leaders who deserve candidacy as they are honest, dedicated and popular,” he said on Tuesday at a press briefing, without taking names, and implored the central command of the party to nominate a dedicated leader.
SM Yasir, also general secretary of Rangpur Metropolitan unit of JP, said he is popular among party activists and supporters in his area.
Fakhar Uzzaman, president of Rangpur Metropolitan unit of JP said he has been involved with the party for the last 15 years.
He was the JP candidate at the 11th national election from Rangpur-5.
Supporters of Hossain Mokbul Shahriar Asif, nephew of Ershad and former lawmaker of Rangpur-1, burnt an effigy of Saad at Palichara Bazar under Rangpur Sadar upazila on Monday night, protesting his contendership in the race.
A clash erupted there as another faction of JP protested the incident, where seven people were injured. Police later brought the situation under control.
On Tuesday, a procession led by Asif was brought out in Rangpur town. Speaking there, Asif said that people of Rangpur would not accept any candidate from outside Rangpur. People of Rangpur want to see him as candidate, he claimed.
Saad could not be reached over phone for comments.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of BNP on Tuesday said his party will contest the by-election, although there is no election environment in the country.
He made the remarks while visiting family members of Mozaffar Hossain, president of Rangpur Metropolitan BNP, who died of cardiac arrest on Sunday night.
Moshiur Rahman Ranga, lawmaker of Gangachara seat and secretary general of JP on Saturday urged AL not to give any candidate at the by-election.
Deferring the demand of Ranga, Tushar Kanti Mondal, general secretary of Rangpur Metropolitan unit AL, said the 11th national election was a combined election of AL and JP, but this by-election is for individuals.
“AL will contest the race as per demand of Rangpur residents,” he said, adding that at least six aspirants of AL collected party tickets.
As per the election schedule, September 9 is the last date of nomination submission. Scrutiny of papers will be held on September 11, and the last day to withdraw candidacy is September 16. The election will be held on October 5.
HINDU COMMUNITY REQUESTS DEFERRING OF POLL DATE
Leaders of Rangpur unit of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad have urged the election commission to defer the by-election considering Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the country’s Hindu community.
The festival this year begins on October 4.
“The election will be held in the middle of Durga Puja”, said Shree Dhiman Bhattacharya, general secretary of the Parishad in Rangpur.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, he said a letter regarding the issue was handed over to GM Shahtab Uddin, regional election officer of Rangpur, on Tuesday.
Around 70,000 Hindus live in Rangpur metropolitan area.
The organisation said elections may be disrupted as it would be difficult for them to cast ballots while Durga Puja observances are going on. Besides, restriction of traffic movement on the election day will affect movement of Hindus to visit puja mandaps at Rangpur metropolitan area, Dhiman said. “We want EC to reschedule the date so the election and puja can be held peacefully,” he added.
Shahtab said he got a letter regarding the issue, which was sent to the EC.
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