BNP's Moni concerned for losing Jamaat votes
Acting Mayor BNP leader Moniruzzaman Moni, who is seeking election to his post, is 'concerned' as he can not rely on his Jamaat vote bank in the coming Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election.
Local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami have informed him of their 'inability to work for him' in campaign as the party has decided to boycott local body elections.
Thre are over 16,000 voters belonging to Jamaat in the city, who largely contributed to victory of Sheikh Tayebur Rahman in last KCC election in 2002.
Jamaat worked actively in favour of Tayebur, which made him winner in the polls race against Awami League (AL) candidate advocate Enayet Ali, a top leader of the party told this correspondent.
Tayebur Rahman of BNP defeated Enayet Ali in 2002 KCC elections with support of Jamaat and Chatra Shibir.
“But this time, the situation is quite different as we have stayed out of KCC polls because of the decision of four-party alliance”, said Khulna city Jamaat Ameer Mian Golam Parwar.
Moni is facing a tough situation and feeling embarrassed due to silence of Jamaat, which is an important factor in election this time, he said.
Contacted, Moni said, “I hope that a surprise is waiting for me when four-party alliance will reconsider its decision and officially declare me its mayoral candidate. If it so happens, then I will defeat all my rivals in KCC polls”.
On the other hand, city Jamaat Ameer Parwar said his party did never believe in political hypocrisy. “We adhere to the decision of the central body of four-party alliance to stay out of local body polls.
“So, our leaders, workers and also supporters have been asked not to go to polling centers”, he said.
Parwar further said that Khulna Jamaat had at least 10 candidates who could win posts of councillors in the August 4 KCC elections. But they were asked not to file nomination papers as per a decision of four-party alliance, he said.
On the other hand, 14-party alliance mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque of Awami League is yet to get any cooperation from leaders and workers of Jatiya Party in his polls campaign.
When contacted, central organising secretary of Jatiya Party Shafiqul Islam Madhu told this correspondent that he did not get any 'green signal' from the party's central committee either to vote for AL candidate or to stay out of the KCC polls.
“So, we are in dilemma regarding this matter”, he said.
The JP leader said with regret that top leaders of Khulna Awami League refused to field more than three of our candidates to contest for posts of ward councilor. This has created a sharp reaction among local JP party leaders and activists, Madhu said.
When asked, Talukder Abdul Khaleque however claimed that he would get full support of Jatiya Party after its chairman HM Ershad returns from London on July 25.
Political analysts said Jatiya Party now seems to be a vote bank for Talukder Khaleque after workers party withdrew its support from AL candidates in local body elections.
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