Election 2008Greater Sylhet Region

Rebels put nine alliance nominees in trouble

1 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Iqbal Siddiqui, Sylhet

Even on getting party tickets, at least 9 candidates of the 4-party alliance are in trouble as rebels have also filed nominations for the JS polls in the greater Sylhet region. In Sylhet-3, BNP nominee 2001 lawmaker Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury is facing a little trouble as the former Finance minister M Saifur Rahman's APS Abdul Quaiyum Chowdhury is also there as an independent runner this time. Quaiyum enjoys support of a small faction of BNP men in the constituency. In Sylhet-6, 2001 lawmaker Syed Mokbul Hossain is an independent candidate while the alliance has fielded Jamaat's district ameer Moulana Habibur Rahman. Mokbul was elected in 2001 as an independent and later joined BNP, but in 2006 he rebelled against Saifur Rahman and his son the then lawmaker Naser Rahman. Since then Mokbul is far away from the party as well as from the alliance. But, he yet enjoys support from a good faction of the BNP, who prefers to remain away from Jamaat, a number people said. In Sunamganj 1, BNP has fielded former BMA leader and former Vice-president of PDP Dr. Rafique Chowdhury while 2001 BNP lawmaker Nozir Hossain is an independent runner there. In Sunamganj-4 also former lawmaker Nozir Hossain is an independent candidate against BNP's former JS Whip Fazlul Haque Aspia this time. Among the 10 alliance men elected in 2001, 9 managed alliance ticket this time except Nozir Hossain. In Moulvibazar-1, BNP leader Anwarul Islam has filed nomination independently to cause harm to the BNP's former State minister Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury. In Moulvibazar-2 BNP has nominated advocate Abed Raja this time while 2001 lawmaker MM Shahin is there as an independent candidate. Failing to bag party ticket in 2001, Shahin won the seat independently and later joined the BNP. In Habiganj-1, BNP's Sheikh Sujat Miah is facing trouble with IOJ's Moulana Abdul Malik Chowdhury who filed nomination independently. In Habiganj-2, BNP nominee Dr. Shakhawat Hossain Jibon has filed nomination while IOJ's central Vice-president Moulana Abdur Rab Yousufi is an independent runner. Former lawmaker Abu Lais Mubin Chowdhury has filed nomination for Habiganj-3 where former district BNP General secretary Chowdhury Ashraful Bari Noman has filed independently.