Nomination in Sylhet Region

AL, BNP both say no to 'reformists'

30 November 2008, 18:00 PM

Iqbal Siddiquee, Sylhet.

Reformist leaders have been left aside in nomination by both Awami League and BNP in Sylhet region for the upcoming national election. Even on repeated attempts, they failed to get party tickets. In BNP, three reformist former lawmakers have been deprived of nomination in the region. They are former state minister and former president of Moulvibazar district BNP Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury of Moulvibazar-1, where BNP has fielded Darad Ahmed, an expatriate from Japan. Former lawmaker Nozir Hossain was denied party ticket in Sunamganj-1, where Dr. Rafique Chowdhury got BNP ticket . In Moulvibazar-2, BNP has fielded Abed Raja in place of reformist leader former lawmaker MM Shahin. Nozir Hossain defeated AL stalwart Suranjit Sengupta in 2001 polls, but he became reformist after 1/11. Sunamganj district BNP at a meeting in July this year dropped him from the party post in the district. He held meetings with his followers in his constituency yesterday. Nozir may contest as an independent candidate, party sources said. Being refused nomination in 2001, independent runner MM Shahin won in Moulvibazar-2 by defeating Awami League's Sultan Mansur. Shahin later joined BNP. But this time, Shahin again failed to manage party ticket as president of Greater Sylhet Development Council in Dhaka, Abed Raja, has been tipped for ticket. Abed Reja joined BNP just weeks ago. Shahin may again run as an independent candidate in the upcoming parliamentary election, sources said. On the other hand, , AL's central organising secretary former lawmaker Sultan Mohammad Mansur has also been dropped from nomination list in Moulvibazar-2. AL has fielded USA AL leader Ataur Rahman Shamim, raising questions at party's grassroots level. Local units of AL and and its front organisations in Sylhet formed human chain and held rallies for nomination of Sultan, but to no result yet. However, it is not clear yet whether Sultan would run independently. But, stalwart like Saifur Rahman and Sunamganj district BNP secretary Kolim Uddin Ahmed Milon managed things although they were among frontline reformists.