Sylhet City Corporation Polls
Gap in BNP widens; AL still undecided
Political circles in Sylhet city is getting warmer as the Election Commission is planning to hold city corporation elections in March next year. But the scenario in Sylhet city is different this time.
With about 90 percent of voter listing having been done in the city, front ranking leaders in both Awami League (AL) and BNP are talking about mayoral polls but things are not getting clear as indoor politics is not still allowed, said a number of leaders in both the camps.
BNP in Sylhet is in not in a comfortable position mainly due to division in the central leadership, political circles said.
Though a big group of front ranking party leaders in Sylhet was under the 'control' of party stalwart Saifur Rahman, now they are in a trouble as their stance is being a questioned by party insiders.
A number of front ranking Saifur loyalists are in trouble while their rivals led by former lawmaker M Ilyas Ali are with newly appointed secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
Almost all the leading party men in Ilyas-led faction were dropped from important positions in the district unit by their rivals backed by Saifur in 2004. Ilyas also lost the post of district BNP convener during BNP rule as he along with two other lawmakers dissented with Saifur.
Party sources said Saifur-backed leaders in Sylhet went to the capital to meet Delwar last week but failed. The gap is widening as pro-Ilyas leaders are avoiding them. Even, they termed their rivals betrayers, the sources said.
In such a situation, BNP is in a bad shape to field candidate for the mayoral post as none from the Saifur-Hafij faction is coming forward openly with any opinion.
The then district BNP chief MA Haque, known as a Saifur loyalist, ran for the mayoral post in the first Sylhet city corporation polls held in 2003. Saifur fielded him ignoring protests by party men in Sylhet and Dhaka, the sources claimed. This in-fighting ensured victory of AL 's Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran.
Since the 2003 polls, Haque remained almost silent in politics. He went to the capital to meet Khondker Delwar, but failed.
He is again interested to run in the coming mayoral race, sources claimed.
Rebel BNP leader and former chairman of Sylhet pourashava AFM Kamal fought as an independent candidate in the 2003 polls as he failed earn Saifur's confidence. He had to pay for this. He lost the port of director of Agrani Bank and was also expelled from the party.
Kamal, who was elected Sylhet pourashava chairman twice earlier, may join Awami League this time, sources claimed.
Some senior AL leaders met Kamal days ago and offered him to be a party candidate in the mayoral polls. Kamal is weighing the offer, the sources claimed.
When contacted, Kamal told this correspondent on Sunday, “I have got a call from Awami League.
“I am looking into the possibilities and have not taken any decision”, Kamal said.
It will take time for things to be clear as restriction on indoor politics is still there, he said.
But, Kamal's stance was not well received by all AL leaders in the city. City AL general secretary Misbah uddin Ahmed Siraj said, if Kamran fails to run in the polls race this time, the party will look for a 'suitable alternative'. He said he may also seek party's approval to run in the polls race.
“The party does not need to bring some one from outside as there are a good number of people in the party”, he added.
When contacted, AL Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta told The Daily Star, “There is no doubt that Awami League will field its own man in the polls”.
He however said it is not the time to choose a candidate. Things will be decided in time, he added.
SCC mayor and city AL chief Kamran is in the jail facing graft charges.
Former chairman of Sylhet Pourasava and Sadar Upazila Parishad Babrul Hossain Bbabul is also aspirant to run in the mayoral race as an AL man, sources said. If refused by AL, he may run as an independent candidate, Babul said.
City AL joint secretary Ashfaque Ahmed is also another aspirant.
Kamran's wife Asma Kamran may join the race if her husband remains behind the bar, some party insiders say.
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