Aspiring candidates begin mass contact programme

The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) constituency fell vacant following death of Awami League (AL) leader Alhaj Abdus Samad Azad over a week ago.

There is a constitutional provision for holding by-election in the vacant seat within 90 days of the vacancy.

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Probable candidates are lobbying to ensure their candidature. Their supporters also started wall writings in different areas of the constituency.

People are discussing among themselves about the probable candidates.

However, common people are yet recover from the shock from death of the senior leader.

The Four-party Alliance candidate who fought against Samad Azad in the constituency in the last parliamentary election in 2001 was Moulana Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury, an advocate and a young leader of Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam. He returned to the country after a visit to the USA a week ahead of the death of Samad Azad. He lost to the AL leader by 5,636 votes. He has been lobbying hard for confirmation of his ticket.

Islami Oikkya Jote (IOJ), an alliance partner also held several meetings in the capital to select their candidate. Shahinur Pasha is confident of getting a nomination in the by-election.

But recent developments inside IOJ made things critical when a new candidate is trying to come to the scene with blessings from the Khelafat Majlish chief Shaikhul Hadis. Khelafat leaders are no more interested to run with Sahhinur Pasha, party sources claimed. Majlishmen have been lobbying for the general secretary of the UK unit of IOJ, Moulana Foyez Ahmed. He is expected to reach Sylhet from UK on May 9.

The ruling alliance is also assessing the probability of fielding a former leader of Ganotantri Party, who had joined BNP in 1991 named Gulzar Ahmed. He became an MP in the February 15 election.

Other aspirants are Lt Colonel (Retd) Syed Ali Ahmed and BNP leader Maleque Khan.

Another source hinted that the ruling party might field Faruque Rashid Chowdhury, the younger brother of former Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury during the AL regime. A state minister during Ershad's rule and an ex-MP Faruque Rashid joined BNP a few years ago.

Meanwhile, Samad Azad's eldest son, Azizus Samad Don is also taking preparation to contest in the by-election. He had been seen in several social gatherings and other programmes in Sylhet and in his upazila.

The latest programme where Don joined was at the concluding programme of the weeklong mourning programme organised in honour of his father. The programmes were organised by Awami League in Jagannathpur upazila and his village home on Wednesday.

In reply to a query from this correspondent, Don told that time is yet come to tell about his candidature in the by-polls. 'The party chief will select the candidate', he further told. Don will attend at another mourning programme in Sunamganj to be organised by Awami League on May 11 where the central leaders are likely to attend.

Other aspirants from the Awami League camp are vice president of the Sunamganj district AL, Siddique Ahmed and former Sylhet district leader of Awami Jubo League Syed Nazrul Islam.