New calculation for Saifur, Muhith as Companiganj axed from Sylhet-1
Areas of 9 out of 19 JS seats changed in Sylhet divn
AMA Muhith and M Saifur Rahman
Former lawmakers of major political parties and new aspirants in the upcoming parliamentary election are making calculations anew after delimitation of constituencies in Sylhet region. They have expressed mixed reaction over the changes made by the Election Commission (EC). The new delimitation has changed areas of nine out of 19 constituencies in the division. These are four in Sylhet, two in Sunamganj and three in Moulvibazar districts. Constituencies in Habiganj remained as before. Many of the new aspirants feel the delimitation may benefit them. Some others however feel different. In Sylhet district, the most important constituency-- Sylhet-1-- got a major change in its area. Companiganj upazila has been deducted from Sylhet-1 and added to Sylhet-4 which comprised Zaintapur and Gowainghat upazilas earlier. Many people in Companiganj protested it and even filed writ petitions against the EC decision. Stalwarts like BNP's M Saifur Rahman and his contestant in 2001 election AL's AMA Muhith also demanded keeping Companiganj with Sylhet-1 (Sadar) as before. Saifur defeated Muhith in 2001 polls there. Again, they are likely to contest in the same field in the upcoming polls. Both the rival parties have almost equal number of supporters in the upazila. In 2001 polls, BNP led by only about 1,000 votes in Companiganj. Muhith however said, “As a policy matter, I am against delimitation, done by EC. It is a political matter. The decision was supposed to be taken politically”. “The policy they (EC) followed is not correct”, the bureaucrat- turned politician said. “The number of voters has decreased in the constituency (Sylhet-1) with the changes”, he added. He however claimed that Companiganj is AL's area and that the change will not affect AL much. On the other hand, aspirants in Sylhet-4 constituency are not happy with inclusion of Companiganj upazila. Former BNP lawmaker Dilder Hossain Selim said, it has become a little difficult to develop relations with voters of a new upazila in a short time. Besides, communication in the upazila is also not that much developed. He however claimed he has good links with people of Companiganj. Three unions of Balaganj upazila have been cut from Sylhet-2 (Balagaqnj and Biswanath) and added to Sylhet-3 (South Surma and Fenchuganj). This will not affect aspirants much in Sylhet-2, where district BNP convener and former lawmaker M Ilyas Ali is considered a strong candidate. Candidates in Sylhet-3 will have to work more now in new areas, political analysts said. In Sunamganj district, Mannargaon union has been axed from Sunamganj-4 (Sunamganj Sadar and Biswambharpur upazilas) and added to Sunamganj-5 (Chhatak and Doarabazar). Former BNP whip Fazlul Haque Aspia, who won from Sunamganj-4 in 2001 polls, said, “As the delimitation has been done in a short time, it would create trouble for many. “We will have to face problem”, said Aspia, who is again set to contest from the constituency. In Moulvibazar, changes have been made in three constituencies. Candidates are making calculations anew following change in their areas, political leaders there said.
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