Election 2008

AL locks horns with JP in greater Rangpur

Candidates refuse to bow out, go ahead with poll campaign

12 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Rafiq Sarker, Rangpur

Five Awami League leaders are in race with Jatiya Party candidates in five constituencies in greater Rangpur region. They are campaigning with respective party symbols--'boat' and 'plough',allotted by the returning officer, as neither of them withdrew their candidature. The AL candidates claimed that the party did not ask them to withdraw their candidature as there was 'negotiation' with JP over the JS seats. Rangpur returning officer yesterday allotted 'boat' symbol to Awami League candidate Tipu Munshi in Rangpur-4 and Ashiqur Rahman in Rangpur-5 as neither they nor their parties withdrew their candidature, official sources said. On the other hand, the returning officer allotted plough to JP candidate Faqruzzaman Jahangir in Rangpur-5 and Karim Uddin Bharasa in Rangpur-4. When contacted, AL leader Ashiqur Rahman said, “We will contest JP candidate and the winner will be the MP of grand alliance.” He said, “People of grater Rangpur want good MPs and will cast votes for good candidates.” Tipu Munshi said, “All candidates who got boat symbol in greater Rangpur will win because they are pro-people leaders. None of them are corrupt.” When asked, JP Presidium member and party candidate in Rangpur-4 Karim Uddin Bharasha said, “You should better ask party chairman HM Ershad why he did not negotiate for the seats.” JP candidate in Rangpur-5 Faqruzzaman said, “I am ready to contest AL candidate in this constituency. I believe people will elect me.” Rangpur JP secretary Mostafizar Rahman alleged that AL played a 'dirty game' in the region. “It will not be good either for AL nor for JP”, he said.