Unmet promises tore down 4-party in Khulna division
Political analysts here have identified four factors for the polls debacle of four-party alliance in Khulna division.
The four-party alliance got 29 out of 37 Jatiya Sangsad seats in 10 districts of Khulna division in 2001 election while Awami League got eight.
BNP won in 19 constituencies while other components of the allianceJamaat-e-Islami, BJP and Islami Oikkya Jote (IOJ) got seven, two and one seat respectively.
But the December 29 poll surprised all. Jamaat and IOJ have been washed away while BNP got only two seats in Khulna division.
The four factors which caused four-party's crushing defeat in the December 29 election are failure to meet people's demands and work up to their expectations, inability to fulfill any of the pledges made in 2001 election, unauthorised fund raising by a group of lawmakers in the name of development work and growing abhorrence for BNP's connection with Jamaat in total disregard of opinion of pro-liberation forces.
Apart from these four factors, sharp intra-party squabbles in all districts in the Khulna division, BNP leaders' soft corner for extremists and Islamist militants and random extortion from business communities by prominent leaders under cover of absolute majority in the eighth parliament added to the downfall of BNP's 'anti-people politics' in Khulna division this time, political analysts believe.
The government of four-party alliance miserably failed to do welfare-oriented work for economic uplift in south-western region of the country comprising ten districts in Khulna division, said leaders of Greater Khulna Development Action Co-ordination Committee.
Lawmakers from Khulna division elected in 2001 election did never try to convince their government to allocate funds for implementation of development projects meant for economic development of south-western region and bring about a change for better living of the toiling masses, they told this correspondent yesterday.
The 2001 poll pledges which remained unfulfilled include pipeline supply of gas, installation of a 210 megawatt power plant, development of Mongla sea port and an export processing zone at Mongla, construction of a sea port at Akram point and Padma bridge at Mawa, construction of an airport, creation of a tourist spot in the Sundarbans and completion of construction of Sheikh Abu Nasser Specialised hospital.
“BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's bluffs given to people making lofty promises during polls campaigns in 2001 in Khulna division to secure votes for her party candidates were taken very seriously by voters this time”, said a leader of the co-ordination committee.
Voters this time threw four-party candidates out of the as none of the promises were met, he added.
Begum Khaleda Zia was elected member of parliament from Khulna-2 constituency in 2001 election.
“We have not forgotten and also not forgiven Begum Zia for not visiting any district of Khulna division during he five-year rule though she was elected from Khulna-2 in 2001 election”, another leaders of Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee said seeking anonymity.
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