Nomination changes widen rift in Jhenidah AL

30 November 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Jhenidah.

Change of candidates by the Awami League high command has widened rift among the leaders and workers of the party in Jhenidah 2, 3 and 4 constituencies. Some local AL leaders said they were surprised at the sudden change of the nominations in the three constituencies. In Jhenidah-1- constituency (Shailkupa upazila) former lawmaker Abdul Hye has been nominated. There is no opposition to him among the party leaders and workers in the constituency. In Jhenidah-2 seat (Harinakunda upazila) Shafikul Islam Apu was nominated by AL. His nomination has led the party into conflicting groups. For the stalled January 2007 election Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui was nominated but this time Apu was chosen instead of Siddiqui that led to a division in the party's local chapter. In Jhenidah-3- constituency Nabi Newaz was initially nominated by AL but in a span of 48 hours he was replaced by Shafiqul Khan Chancal. The change has caught the local AL leaders and workers by surprise, party sources said. Shafiqul Khan Chancal said, "As AL chief Sheikh Hasina thought me a better choice to fight rival BNP candidate she changed the nomination in my favour. I am confident of winning." In Jhenidah-4 seat Anwarul Azim Anar has been nominated on Saturday canceling the earlier nomination of former Kaliganj pourashabha chairman Abdul Mannan. These changes in Jhenidah 2,3 and 4 constituencies have given rise to internal feud in the party. When contacted, Abdul Mannan, whose nomination for Jhenidah-4-constituency was later reverted said, the change of his nomination would tarnish the image of the party and slim the party's chance of winning. Chhatra league Kaliganj upazila general secretary Palash said, "This repeated change of nomination will hamper the image of the party."