AL office in Nilphamari besieged

Agitated supporters of the president of Awami League (AL) district unit Dewan Kamal Ahmed yesterday besieged the party office demanding lone selection of the incumbent mayor as party candidate in the upcoming mayoral election.
At that time, a meeting of the party's municipal unit was going on over selection of the party's mayoral candidate. Local lawmaker and central cultural secretary Asaduzzaman Noor along with other senior party leaders of the district were present at the meeting.
AL sources said, the party's district committee called a meeting at10:00 am yesterday at their district office to choose a prospective mayoral candidate for the municipal election here and send his name to the central committee of the party for a final decision.
Party's Sadar upazila unit general secretary Alimuddin Basunia who was present at the meeting said to this correspondent that names of three aspirant mayoral candidates were taken into consideration. They were incumbent mayor and district Awami League president Dewan Kamal Ahmed, former Chattra League (BCL) leader and freedom fighter Aminur Rahman and Principal Anisuzzaman Rumi.
Later, the meeting decided not to choose a lone candidate but to send the names of all three aspirant candidates to the central committee for final selection, Basunia said.
As the news spread all over, supporters of Dewan Kamal who were waiting outside the party office burst into protest. They instantly besieged the party office for some time demanding instant declaration of Dewan Kamal as party's mayoral candidate for sending his name to Dhaka. When the collapsible gate of the entrance to the party office was closed, there arose a hue and cry.
However, agitated supporters of Dewan Kamal calmed down when lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor assured that the central selection committee is wise enough to select the right candidate.
Contacted, Dewan Kamal said his supporters gathered at their own will in a peaceful manner to hear the party decision only.
A contingent of police was present at the time of agitation.