Intra-party feud dims BNP hopes in Tangail 4, 5, 6, 7

27 November 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Tangail

BNP could not close its rank and file in the district yet and the party men have already divided in many areas over candidatures in the ensuing Jatiya Sangsad election. BNP candidates won five out of the eight JS seats in the district in 2001. Of the rest three seats, Awami League got two and Krishak Sramik Janata League one. Although BNP have good organisational strength in the district but intra-party feud and rivalry over nominations may cause a disaster in the coming election, party sources said. This time, party is facing problems over candidatures in at least four out of eight constituencies, they said. In Tangail-4 (Kalihati), BNP leader Shajahan Siraj won the election in 2001 defeating AL candidate Abdul Latif Siddiqui. This time, Shajahan Siraj cannot contest in the election due to convictions in corruption cases under Emergency Power Rules (EPR). In absence of Siraj, industrialist Lutfar Rahman Motin, engineer Badlur Rahman Khan and former student leaders Selim Reza and Benazir Ahmed Titu are seeking party ticket from the constituency. Lutfar Rahman Motin has already got the green signal from the party high command. In Tangail-5 (Sadar), BNP's Maj Gen (Retd) Mahmudul Hasan won the election in 2001 defeating AL presidium member Abdul Mannan. There is no alternative to Mahmudul Hasan this time also as he is the most eligible candidate in the constituency, party insiders said. In Tangail-6 (Nagarpur-Delduar), Gautam Chakraborty won the elections in 1996 and 2001 defeating AL candidate Khandakar Abdul Baten. This time, about a dozen party leaders including Habibur Rahman Khan Chunnu, Enamul Karim Shaheed and barrister Ashek Ali are seeking party nomination. In Tangail-7 (Mirzapur), BNP's Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui was defeated by Awami League (AL) candidate Ekabbar Hossain in the election of 2001. In 2008 election, several party leaders including Sayid Shohrab, Firoz Haidar Khan and Abdur Rouf are seeking party ticket from the constituency. Abul Kalam Azad is prospective among the contenders this time also, party insiders said.