Winning to be tough for 'clean' BNP nominees

From left: Fakir Mahbub Anam, Lutfar Rahman Matin and Ahmed Azam Khan

Despite 'clean and gentlemen' images to the people, BNP nominees in Tangail-1 (Modhupur-Dhanbari), Tangail-4 (Kalihati) and Tangail-8 (Sakhipur-Basail) constituencies may find it tough to win the December 29 parliament election as they have to fight against strong rival candidates.
In Tangail-1 (Modhupur-Dhanbari), BNP nominated industrialist Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapan to contest against AL-led grand alliance candidate former lawmaker Dr Abdur Razzak Bhola.
BNP-led four-party candidate Swapan got the third position in 2001 election getting 40,972 votes while AL candidate Bhola won the seat with 98,413 votes. However, 'rebel' BNP candidate Abdul Gafur Montu ended up securing 53,509 votes.
Swapan, an automobile engineer educationally, is not facing any rival candidate from inside the party but still the polls race this time is going to be a tough one as his rival AL-led grand alliance candidate Abdur Razzak Bhola got more than the total number of votes bagged by 'two BNP candidates' in the last election.
In Tangail-4 (Kalihati), BNP nominated industrialist Lutfar Rahman Matin for the constituency as replacement of Shajahan Siraj, who has been absconding after convictions in corruption cases under Emergency Power Rules.
Former BGMEA vice president Matin will have to fight strong AL-led grand alliance candidate Abdul Latif Siddiqui who lost the last election to Shajahan Siraj with a margin of 5,138 votes.
Besides, Matin will have to Managing somewhat scattered party workers will also be required to do a good result in the constituency, party sources said.
In Tangail-8 (Sakhipur-Basail), advocate Ahmed Azam Khan, lawyer of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, has got party ticket to contest against Krishak Shramik Janata League President former lawmaker Abdul Kader Siddiqui Bir Uttam this time also.
Ahmed Azam contested from the constituency in 2001 election and ran as third position holder getting 51,135 votes. Winner Kader Siddiqui got 80,558 votes while AL candidate Salam Khan bagged 54,501 votes.
Besides Kader Siddiqui, Ahmed Azam will have to face strong AL-led grand alliance candidate Shawkat Momen Shajahan this time.