Alliance strained as BNP seeks ticket in Jamaat stronghold

From Left: Lutful Kabir & Abdul Khaleque Mondal

Local BNP leader Lutful Kabir submitted nomination paper to contest from the parliamentary seat comprising Satkhira Sadar upazila, retained by Jamaat in 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001elections.

Acceptance of Lutful's nomination paper by BNP has become a talk of the town with many political observers asking whether the party would challenge its ally in its stronghold. BNP did not sell nomination papers to party men in 45 Jatiya Sangsad seats countrywide, kept for its allies in the coming election.

Sources close to Luftul claimed that he submitted nomination paper due to pressure from local BNP leaders, who on many occasions in recent days demanded a party man as candidate from the area. Many BNP leaders and workers claimed that Jamaat leader Abdul Khaleque Mondal was elected from Satkhira-2 in 2001 election with BNP votes.

Some political analysts claimed that Jamaat may face a tough task to retain the seat in coming election as a large section of BNP leaders and activists may resist its candidate, if nominated.

Many BNP leaders said the party men were unhappy with Khaleque Mondal as he allegedly ignored them during his tenure.

Talking to this correspondent, Lutful Kabir, a former leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), said he submitted nomination paper following pressure from party men and assurance from party high-ups.

He also claimed that the Jamaat lawmaker did little development work in the area, which isolated him from people.

He (Khaleque) did not fulfill his pre-election pledges such as development of Bhomra land port, construction of Satkhira-Assassuni road and a bypass road on the western side of the town, Lutful alleged. BNP will not shoulder Jamaat's failure, he said.

Some front ranking leaders of Satkhira district BNP even said that they decided that they would field a party man to run as an independent candidate if the alliance ticket goes to Jamaat again this time.

Twelve out of 14 Union Parishad (UP) chairmen in the constituency belonging to BNP at a meeting earlier demanded nomination of a BNP man from the constituency allegedly because the Jamaat MP had ignored them.

They also alleged that the lawmaker did all works, even distribution of VGD cards and corrugated sheets, through Jamaat men ignoring local government bodies leaders, Alipur UP chairman and local BNP leader Abdur Rouf said.

"Maulana Khaleque won the last election with BNP votes. This time it will be hard to convince BNP supporters to vote him as he (Khaleque) has created a rift between BNP and Jamaat men in the constituency", he said.

Khaleque Mondol however claimed that alliance high-ups assured him of nomination. He also refuted allegations that alliance's polls pledges could not be implemented due to his failure. He claimed that he implemented many development projects. "We are trying to work with BNP to retain the seat", he told this correspondent.

Satkhira district BNP member- secretary Samsuzzoha Bablu however said he does not know anything about party high command's assurance to Khaleque Mondol.