Major parties in crisis to field candidates in Barisal region

Major political parties will face crisis in fielding candidates in Barisal region as most of its prominent leaders are either convicted or on the run since 1/11.
Fourteen out of 23 former lawmakers of the two parties from Barisal division have been sued in 51 cases and eight of them are convicted in 10 cases.
Most of the rest cases are under trial and being probed by different law enforcing agencies and Anti-Cporruption Commission (ACC).
The convicted lawmakers are Barisal district Awami League (AL) secretary and former chief whip Abul Hasant Abdullah (Barisal-1 constituency), central Jubo Dal vice- president and former lawmaker from Barisal-6 Abul Hossain Khan, former BNP law maker from Jhalakati -1 and former state minister Barrister Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam, former BNP lawmaker from Patuakhali-2 Shaidul Alam Talukdar, former BNP lawmaker from Barguna-2 Nurul Islam Moni, former BNP lawmaker from Barguna-3 Matiur Rahman Talukdar, former BNP lawmaker from Bhola-3 Hafiz Ibrahim, Jatiyo Party (Monju) chairman and former lawmaker from Projpur-2 Anwar Hossain Monju.
Most of the front ranking leaders and former lawmakers elected from Barisal region including 23 Jatiya Sangsad constituencies are absent from their areas since the 1/11.
Former BNP minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hussein Chowdhury, former BCC Mayor and former BNP lawmaker Majibor Rahman Sarwar, and former lawmakers Hafiz Ibrahim, Nazimuddin Alam, Matiur Rahman Talukdar are in under custody.
On the other hand, reformist BNP leader and former state minister Shah Md. Abul Hussein, former BNP whip Syed Shahidul Huq Jamal, former BNP lawmakers Elen Bhutto and Rustam Ali Farazi and former AL lawmaker Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukdar are not seen in their areas since 1/11.
However, no case has been filed against reformist BNP leaders Mosharraf Hossain Mongu of Barisal-3, Shah Md. Abul Hossain of Barisal-4, former state minsieter Shahidul Huq Jamal, Israt Sultana Elen Bhutto of Banaripara of Swarupkati constituency, Jamaat leader and former lawnmaker Mawlana Delwar Hussein Sayeedi of Pirojpur-2, former AL lawmaker from Patuakhali-3 AKM Jahangir Hossain, reformist former AL lawmaker Mahbubur Rahman of Patuakhali-4, former AL Lawmaker of Barguna-1 Delawr Hossain and Mosharraf Hossain Shahjahan of Bhola-1.
BARISAL
Abul Hasant Abdullah, cousin of Sheikh Hasina, left the country days before 1/11 and is in India, sources said.
Tried in absentia, Hsanat has been sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment in two cases for ill-gotten wealth, wealth information and evading taxes. He is also accused in seven other cases for alleged forgery, terrorism, corruption and possessing illegal arms.
Central BNP leader Zahiruddin Swapan, a lawmaker from Hasnat's constituency, was also sued on October 5 by a party man for alleged toll collection.
Syed Moazem Hossain Alal, central Jubo Dal secretary and former lawmaker from Barisal-2, was sued on April 25 last year by a JCD leader Kazi Mahfuzur Rahman. He was arrested and is on bail now.
Barisal district BNP president, former BCC Mayor and former lawmaker Mojibur Rahman Sarwar was arrested from his house in Dhaka on May 29 last year under Arms Act. Accused in seven cases including one for murder, he is now in jail.
Central Jubo Dal vice president and former lawmaker Abul Hossain Khan was convicted for 7 years in a arms case on May 24. He is on bail granted by High Court.
JHALAKATI
Former state minmister and BNP leader Barrister Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam of Jhalakati -1 constituency is accused in two caes for attempt to murder and toll collection.
Tried in absentia, Omar has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for possessing illegal wealth. He is absconding, police said.
PIROJPUR
Jatio Party (Monju) chairman and former communications minister Anwar Hossain Monju has been convicted for five and his wife, former lawmaker Tasmima Hossain, is also accused in two cases.
Former BNP lawmaker from Pirojpur-3 Dr. Rustom Ali Farazi is accused in two cases, now under investigation by ACC and police.
PATUAKHALI
former BNP lawmaker of Patuakhali-2 Shaidul Alam Talukdar, convicted for 10 years, is on bail by High court former home minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hussein Chowdhury is accused in a case for possessing ill-gotten wealth and tax evasion.
BARGUNA
Former BNP lawmaker from Barguna-2 Nurul Islam Moni is on the run after conviction for 14 years in trial in absentia in one case. He faces four other cases, now under investigation by ACC.
BHOLA
Former BNP lawmaker from Bhola-3 Hafiz Ibrahim is accused in 18 cases. He was to 13 years' imprisonment in two cases and is now in jail.
BNP lawmaker from of Bhola-4 Nazimuddin Alam is in jail. He faces eight cases and has been granted bail in three of them.
Former BNP lawmaker from Bhola-3 and former state minister Maj (rtd.) M A Hafiz is accused in 2 cases.