Gono Forum's Mafizul Islam now Oikyafront's nominee
Following cancellation of the candidature of BNP-backed Jatiya Oikyafront candidate Afroza Khan Rita, veteran Gono Forum leader Mafizul Islam Khan Kamal is now contesting the upcoming general elections as Oikyafront candidate with the symbol 'rising sun.'
Kamal, who was elected lawmaker from the constituency in 1973 and former general secretary of the district unit Awami League (AL), left the party with Dr Kamal Hossain and formed Gono Forum.
Freedom fighter Kamal, also the editor and publisher of a Bangla daily 'Gono Chetona' during the Liberation War, is the founder of Manikganj Government Women's College and served as the principal of the institution until its nationalisation.
Although Kamal sought nomination from Jatiya Oikyafront, BNP district unit President Afroza Khan Rita got the nomination and was supposed to contest the polls with the symbol 'sheaf of paddy.'
After Rita's nomination was cancelled by the High Court (HC) on loan default charges, Kamal now appears as a lone candidate from Jatiya Oikyafront.
Kamal said he is getting a good response from the voters as well as the BNP supporters.
On the other hand, AL-backed candidate and incumbent lawmaker Jahid Maleque Swapan is contesting the polls from this constituency.
Swapan is son of former Dhaka City Corporation Mayor late Col (Rtd) MA Maleque.
Though Swapan was defeated by BNP candidate Harun Rashid Khan Monno in the 2001 elections, he became the lawmaker from the constituency defeating the same opponents in 2008 and was re-elected unopposed in 2014 polls.
A number of voters said as Jatiya Party (JP) Joint General Secretary Jahirul Alam Rubel is contesting the polls with the symbol 'plough' there is a chance of reducing AL's votes.
So, the main contest may take place between the contestants of AL and Gono Forum, voters assumed.
Besides, Rafiqul Islam of Biplobi Workers Party of Bangladesh and Mohammad Ibrahim of Islami Andolon Bangladesh are contesting the polls with symbols 'spade' and 'hand fan' respectively.
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