Satkhira AL men threaten <i>en masse</i> resignation

Human chain, rally demanding fielding of party men in all four seats

3 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Abu Ahmed, Satkhira

1. Clockwise: Nazrul Islam, Monsur Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar and Golam Reza. 2. Awami League (AL) workers formed a human chain in Satkhira town yesterday demanding candidature of Md Nazrul Islam in Satkhira-2 (Sadar) constituency.Photo: STAR

Awami League leaders at a press conference here yesterday reiterated their demand to field party candidates in all four constituencies in Satkhira and threatened of en masse resignation from party posts for non-compliance. Earlier on the day, grassroots leaders and activists of Satkhira Sadar Upazila and Poura AL units formed a human chain and held a rally in front of the press club not to change candidature of district AL secretary Nazrul Islam in Satkhira-2. AL's pressure for party nominees intensified the row between the party and Jatiya Party, two grand alliance partners. The AL leaders urged AL chief Sheikh Hasina again not to field JP candidates in the name of alliance. Seat sharing among the grand alliance partners are yet to be finalised. The press conference, held at Satkhira Press Club, was attended by leaders of Satkhira district, Sadar upazila and Satkhira Pourasava AL and its front organisations. Both AL and JP have nominated candidates in all the constituencies in the district. These are Satkhira- 1 (Tala-Kalaroa upazila), Satkhira-2 (Sadar), Satkhira-3 (Assassuni and Debhata upazila and four unions of Kaliganj upazila) and Satkhira -4 (Shyamnagar upazila and four unions of Kaliganj upazila). AL leaders have submitted nomination in all the four constituencies. They are Satkhira district AL president Engineer Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Satkhira-1, district AL secretary Alhaj Nazrul Islam in Satkhira-2, Dr AFM Ruhul Haque in Satkhira-3 and Monsur Ahmed in Satkhira-4. JP leaders Monsieur Ali, MA Jabbar, Advocate Salah Uddin and AHM Golam Reza submitted nomination papers in Satkhira-1,2, 3 and 4 respectively. In a written statement read out at the press conference, Sadar upazila AL resident SM Shawkat Hossain said they are not opposed to grand alliance but it should select candidates considering their popularity, organizational strength and past records. He said JP has no grassroots committees to face Jamaat candidates of BNP-led four-party alliance candidates in the four constituencies. MA Jabbar and Golam Reza resides in Dhaka and they have no contact with people and will not be able to compete with Jamaat candidates, Shawkat Hossain said. They urged Hasina not to change party nominees Nazrul Islam and Monsur Ahmed in Satkhira-2 and Satkhira-4 as they are popular and will be able to regain the seats from Jamaat in the upcoming polls. Replying to questions, the AL leaders said they have taken up a four-day agitation programme to press their demand. They will form human chains, hold rallies and launch mass signature campaign. If their demand is not met by December 7, they will resign enmasse from party posts, the AL leaders said.