Rebels in race, defy warning

At least 70 Awami League leaders have filed nomination papers as independent candidates from 43 constituencies in 21 districts, defying the party high command's repeated warnings of punitive action for going against party nominees.

They sought candidacy alongside their party-nominated candidates on Wednesday, the last day for submitting nomination papers.

The number of such dissidents could be higher. This newspaper has so far got information from 21 of the 64 districts. 

Some of the rebels are sitting MPs while the rest are top leaders of the ruling party's district units, report our district correspondents.

A number of them said they would contest the polls at any cost while several others said they would try their best till the last moment to get party support.

Against this backdrop, leaders of the AL election conducting committee and sub-committees sit today to discuss the overall situation as well as issues regarding rebel candidates, said party insiders.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said the AL election monitoring cell is looking into whether any party men filed nomination papers as independent candidates alongside the party nominees.

"In such a case, the party will take measures to resolve the issue through discussions and the organisational process."

Hanif said the matter would be clear after the December 9 deadline for withdrawing nomination papers.

On the other hand, the BNP appears to be in a better position with fewer dissidents. One of the reasons behind this is that the party fielded multiple candidates in almost all constituencies.

Yet, at least 16 BNP leaders filed nomination papers as independent candidates.

According to the Election Commission data, 696 BNP leaders submitted nomination papers from 295 constituencies on the party ticket.

In case of the AL, the number is lower with 281 leaders filing nomination papers for 264 seats on the party ticket. 

The dissidents could become a headache for the AL if the party high-ups fail to convince them to work for the party nominees.

The AL high command on several occasions warned of expulsion from the party for life if anyone files nomination papers going against the party nominees.

But it appears a number of the party men have not heeded the warning.

Take Rajshahi-5 as an example.

In the constituency, two AL leaders submitted nomination papers as independent candidates against party nominee Mansur Rahman.

The two are Tajul Islam Md Faruk, former district AL president, and Md Wabaidur Rahman, vice president of district Jubo League.

Faruk, who was elected lawmaker on the AL ticket in the 1991 election, said he decided to contest the December 30 polls though he did not get party nomination.

"I am still hopeful of getting party support. If not, I am going to contest independently," he said, adding that he has been involved with the party for decades.

Wabaidur could not be reached on his mobile phone yesterday afternoon.

His cousin Enamul Haque said Wabaidur is still lobbying for party backing.

"If he eventually fails to get party support, he will not run for the election,” Enamul said.

In Narayanganj-4, Jatiya Sramik League leader Kawsar Ahmed Palash, filed nomination papers as an independent candidate, going against AL nominee and sitting MP Shamim Osman.

"I sought party nomination in the last two national polls but could not get it. This time, I filed nomination papers following demands from grassroots leaders and locals. Many senior party leaders encouraged me to run for the polls," said Palash, labour welfare and development affairs secretary of the Jatiya Sramik League Central Committee.

Four AL leaders, including Palash, filed nomination papers as independent candidates from two of the five constituencies in Narayanganj.

On the other hand, two BNP leaders filed nomination papers as independent candidates from one constituency.

In Sylhet division, five AL leaders submitted nomination papers as independent candidates in four constituencies in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar while four BNP leaders filed nomination papers as independent candidates from two constituencies in Sunamganj.

In Sunamganj-4, district AL President Matiur Rahman submitted nomination papers as an independent candidate.

The AL did not nominate anyone for the constituency, leaving it for the Jatiya Party.

Matiur claimed that he is not at all a rebel candidate. His submission of nomination papers is a way to bargain with the party leadership for getting party backing.

"If the party is not convinced, I will withdraw my nomination papers," he said.

BNP leader Raju Ahmed, and JP leaders Inan Chowdhury and Kamruzzaman also submitted nomination papers as independent candidates from the constituency.

In Habiganj-1, Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury, sitting AL lawmaker from a seat reserved for women, filed nomination papers as an independent candidate.

Keya said she did so only to convince the party that she is the most promising candidate who can defeat Jatiya Oikyafront candidate Reza Kibria there.

The AL MP said she would withdraw nomination papers if she does not get party support.

Failing to get JP nomination for the constituency, sitting MP and JP leader MA Munim Chowdhury Babu filed nomination papers as an independent candidate.

In Sunamganj-3, three BNP leaders submitted nomination papers as independent candidates. They are MA Sattar, Ashraful Islam Sumon and Rafiqul Islam Khasru.

Besides, sitting AL lawmaker Abdul Matin filed nomination papers as an independent candidate in Moulvibazar-2, claiming that he did it on party high-ups' advice.

Meanwhile, 21 AL leaders filed nomination papers as independent candidates in Rangpur Division -- one each in Rangpur and Dinajpur, three in Thakurgaon, nine in Nilphamari, four in Gaibandha and three in Kurigram.

SM Jahangir Alam, a member of the central Bangabandhu Ainjibi Parishad, submitted nomination papers as an independent candidate in Kurigram-4, going against party nominee Jakir Hossain, a former AL lawmaker.

"I am trying to get party backing. If the party high command asks me to withdraw my nomination papers, I will do so. But I am still hopeful,” he said.

In Mymensingh division, 14 AL leaders, including seven in Mymensingh-3, filed nomination papers as independent candidates.