AL Nominations Protested In Several Districts
Hunger strike in Dinajpur, Netrakona; resignation threat in Moulvibazar
75-year-old Anil Chandra Roy among hunger strikers cries in front of Dinajpur Press Club yesterday demanding AL ticket for Shatish Chandra Roy from Dinajpur-2, left, and supporters of Sultan Md Monsur Ahmed demonstrate demanding his ticket from Moulvibazar-2.Photo: STAR
Leaders and activists of Awami League in Dinajpur-2, Jhenidah-4, Moulvibazar-2 and Netrakona-4 yesterday observed protest programmes against nominating party candidates ignoring opinions of grassroots party men. In Dinajpur-2 (Bochaganj-Biral) constituency, AL leaders, activists and supporters observed a daylong hunger strike and formed a human chain yesterday demanding party ticket for former lawmaker Shatish Chandra Roy. The protesters also held a rally in front of Dinajpur Press Club where the speakers threatened to quit their party and urged Roy to participate the forthcoming national election as an independent candidate if the party fails to nominate him. Later they formed about one kilometre long a human chain under police protection. Our Moulvibazar Correspondent reports: Political situation in Kulaura upazila has become tense over AL nomination for Moulvibazar-2 (Kulaura and four unions of Kamalganj) as AL activists have taken to the street to protest dropping of central Organising Secretary Sultan Md Monsur Ahmed from nomination for this seat. AL offices in Moulvibazar district town and Kulaura upazila headquarters have remained closed for two days after AL activists locked them on Tuesday. Aggrieved leaders and workers of Kulaura upazila AL and its front organisations have threatened of mass resignation from the party in protest against nominating UK expatriate Ataur Rahman Shamim instead of Sultan Monsur for Moulvibazar-2. From a human chain at Kulaura upazila headquarter at noon, they announced 'hunger strike until death' in every union under Moulvibazar-2 constituency from today. "Kulaura AL men become disappointed at nomination of UK expatriate Ataur Rahman Shamim for the seat ignoring the opinion of grassroots activists who proposed Monsur's name as the only person for nomination," said Abdul Motin, president of Kulaura upazila unit of AL. Sultan Md Monsur was elected from this seat in 1996 election. In 2001 election, he was defeated by only 2,700 votes. In Jhenidah, hundreds of leaders and activists of Kaliganj upazila Awami League yesterday took part in a meeting demanding cancellation of Kaliganj upazila AL President Abdul Mannan's nomination for Jhenidah-4 constituency, reports our correspondent. They also formed a human chain demanding nomination for upazila AL Secretary Anwarul Azim Anar. Several people who joined the meeting wearing shrouds said they will sacrifice their lives if Anar is not nominated. “We will go to AL party chief Sheikh Hasina tomorrow, fill up nomination paper again and submit it to the party office for reconsideration,” Anar said. In Netrakona, Madan upazila AL district at a press conference Tuesday night protested nomination for Rebaka Momin for Netrakona-4 (Madan, Mohonganj and Khaliajuri upazila) constituency. Grassroots workers in the constituency had sent the name of ex-student leader Shafi Ahmed to the party parliamentary board, Nurul Islam, acting president of Madan upazila AL said. “Rebaka Momin, wife of late Abdul Momin, presidium member of AL, has no political background. She is not known to the party activists, let alone voters,” he said. Over a hundred leaders and workers of Madan upazila AL also observed a hunger strike from 6:00am to 12 noon in front of Madan AL office demanding nomination for Shafi Ahmed. At another meeting held at Atpara upazila AL office yesterday noon, party activists protested nomination to Manjur Kader Quraishi for Netrakona-3 (Atpara-Kendua) constituency. Quraishi was not included in the panel of five candidates selected by grassroots level workers, they said.
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