BNP-Jamaat gap widens in Kushtia
Feud between BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami in Kushtia took a new turn as Jamaat yesterday announced name of its candidate in Kushtia-4 (Khoksa-Kumarkhali) constituency for the coming parliamentary election.
The local Jamaat leaders at a press conference held at Kumarkhal declared the name of Prof Farhad Hossain as '4-party alliance candidate' in the election without having any discussion with BNP. Farhad is senior Ameer of district Jamaat.
They said, in the election, Jamaat will not work for any person other than a Jamaat man in Kushtia.
With Kumarkhali upazila Jamaat Amir Delwar Hossain in the chair, the press conference was addressed by, among others, Prof Farhad Hossain, upazila Jamaat Ameer Sohorab Uddin and its secretary Kamruzzaman Mia.
Farhad Hossain got 35,837 votes in 1996 election and ran third.
BNP candidate Syed Mehedi Ahmed won the seat in 1996 by defeating Awami League leader Abul Hossain Taurn with 241 votes.
Mehedi retained the seat in 2001 polls, bagging 110, 792 votes. He got all Jamaat votes in 2001 election.
Kumarkhali BNP is now divided into two factions-one led by Nurul Islam Ansar Pramanik and other by its Kumarkhali unit president Anwar Hossain Bokul. Bokul is loyal to Mehedi Rumi.
Ansar Pramanik, also chairman of Kumarkhali municipality, had sought nomination in 2001 election but was refused.
Ansar became a 'rebel candidate' in January 21 election in 2006
that was scrapped.
Two factions held separate programmes in the upazila during BNP's countrywide protest rally on October 17. Upazila Jamaat Ameer Delwar Hossain joined Ansar.
Talking to this correspondent seeking anonymity, some top BNP leaders in the district said Jamaat's unilateral decision in Kushtia-4 constituency has widened the gap between the two allies.
Comments