The allure of ‘six months in power’
Nearly two dozen people are seeking the ruling Awami League's tickets to contest the Dhaka-17 by-polls even though the current parliament will dissolve in six months.
Strong possibilities of getting the party ticket for the next national polls and lucrative amenities are tempting many to seek the AL ticket for the by-polls.
The geographical importance of the constituency is also a factor behind the interests of the nomination seekers, as important areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Bhashantek, and the Cantonment area fall under this constituency.
Politicians, businesspersons, actors, and even comedians are on the list of 22 persons who collected the AL nomination forms on the last day.
Whoever wins the polls will take part in the parliamentary sessions for several months, as the 12th national polls must take place within 90 days before the expiration of the term of the Jatiya Sangshad on January 29, 2024.
Mohammad A Arafat, chairperson of Suchinta Foundation and member of AL central committee, actor Ferodus Ahmed, comedian Siddiqur Rahman, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin, and Roushan Hossain Pathan, who is the son of former lawmaker Akbar Hossain Pathan, are the mentionable names among the nomination seekers.
Earlier, in Chattogram-8 constituency, 27 persons sought nomination from AL even though the lawmaker would only get to hold office for eight months.
Sources inside the AL said the aim of those seeking the nomination is to ensure their nomination in the upcoming 12th national elections, as the one getting the party ticket for the by-polls is most likely to get endorsed by AL in the upcoming elections.
The privileges enjoyed by a lawmaker are another important factor. As per the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order, 1973 (President's Order), a lawmaker shall be entitled to receive remuneration at the rate of Tk 55,000 per month and the privileges and amenities provided in this Order during the whole of his term in office.
He will also be entitled to an imported car, jeep or microbus -- free of customs duty, value-added tax (VAT), development surcharge and import permit fee -- during the whole of his term. A lawmaker also gets a discretionary grant of an amount not exceeding Tk 5,00,000 per annum.
The constituency became vacant following the death of lawmaker Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as actor Farooq, on May 15 this year.
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