Ershad's announcement angers grassroots leaders

Most of the Jatiya Party (JP) leaders and activities at Ulipur upazila unit expressed dissatisfaction over party Chairman HM Ershad as he declared former minister Mydul Islam as a candidate for Kurigram-3 constituency in the next general election.
They said the decision Ershad had taken for the party candidate in Kurigram-3 constituency is undemocratic and disappointing.
In August, Ershad declared that Mydul Islam would be the party candidate for Ulipur constituency. JP candidate Maulana Motiur Rahman was elected from the seat in the 2002 polls.
JP Ulipur upazila unit Organising Secretary Nuruzzaman strongly criticised the decision and urged the party chairman to select a candidate as per the aspirations of the grassroots-level leaders and activists.
He said, “Only six leaders of Ulipur upazila unit of JP agreed Ershad for Mydul. The rest of the 52-member committee were against the decision.”
President of JP Dhamchreni union unit and upazila unit Treasurer Noor Baker said, “Mydul Islam changed his political identity five times during his political career. In last two and half years, he joined AL from BNP and then joined JP from AL. A leader who can change political identity only for power cannot be truly patriotic.”
Upazila unit Office Secretary Shazamal said ignoring the opinion of grassroots-level leaders and activists is violation of Representation of People's Ordinance (RPO). As per RPO, each political party has to frame constitution with provision to nominate three candidates with the opinion of grassroots-level leaders for choosing one by its central committee, he explained.
When contacted, JP upazila unit President Gelap Uddin and Secretary Atiar Munshi said they had accepted Mydul as a candidate for Kurigram-3 constituency.
Vice President of JP Ulipur upazila unit Akhtarul Islam Harun declined to comment on the issue.
When contacted, Mydul Islam said, “A few leaders of the upazila unit influenced by another aspirant candidate are making propaganda against me.”