Grand alliance to face hurdles in Kushtia-2, 4

Inu and Awal

Two grand alliance candidates are likely to face problems in two Kushtia constituencies as the leaders and activists of Awami League (AL) say 'no' to them.
The candidates are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu in Kushtia-2 (Mirpur-Bheramara) and Advocate Abdul Awal Mia, presidium member of Jatiya Party (Ershad) in Kushtia-4 (Khoksa-Kumarkhali).
Inu will contest with boat symbol while Awal with plough.
Earlier, AL nominated Mahbubul Alam Hanif for Kushtia-2 and Sultana Tarun for Kushtia-4 as its candidate.
Sources said AL leaders and activists in both the constituencies are not attending the campaign with Inu and Awal.
“We will neither work nor vote for Inu,” said Advocate Abdul Halim, general secretary of Mirpur upazila unit AL.
According to records, Inu ran in Kushtia-2 constituency in 1991, 1996 and 2001 elections and got only 21411, 26327 and 38 877 votes respectively.
“Awal will not be able to hold a meeting gathering a thousand people as JP has no organisational base here,” said AL Kumarkhali upazila unit General Secretary Abdul Mannan.
He said local AL leaders and activists know Awal as traitor as he betrayed AL candidate in 1996 election that caused defeat of AL candidate Abul Hossain Tarun to BNP by only 361 votes.
Awal won the seat in 1991 election as AL nominee defeating BNP candidate. But he was denied nomination in 1996 and played against the then AL candidate Abul Hossain.
Later Awal quitted AL in January 2001 and joined JP politics.
When contacted, Inu called for unity of secular forces.
“We should think that our struggle is against the BNP-Jamaat alliance. So unity is a must. Any disintegration will be harmful for all,” he added.
Awal urged AL leaders and activists to work with him as what he said there is bright prospect for grand alliance to win in his constituency.