Election 2008C'nawabganj-3

<i>Mudslinging in campaign as allies turn rivals </i>

12 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Rabiul Hasan, C'nawabganj

Their parties are allies at the centre but they are rivals in their area, charging each other for corruption. Harunur Rashid of BNP and former lawmaker Latifur Rahman of Jamaat-e-Islami are adamant to contest the upcoming national election in Chapainawabganj-3 constituency. None of the candidate withdrew their candidature even in the last moment yesterday despite requests from party high-ups. The two are busy in campaigning along with their party activists in different parts of the constituency. They are engaged in mudslinging against each other at public meetings. Their rivalry has also made relations of party men bitter, raising apprehension of clash, people in the area said. Jamat organised a worker's meeting at Sahid Satu Hall on Monday to activate them to work vigorously for the party candidates. The party leaders however urged the workers not to violate the election rules, party insider said. Jamaat sources claimed that they had been urging four-party high-ups from the beginning to leave the seat for their party candidate, claiming that his position was good in the constituency. As it went unheeded, the two parties are at loggerheads in Chapainawabganj-3 constituency. Both candidates will use their party symbols . Harunur Rashid was elected from the constituency in last two elections. Latifur Rahman won the seat in 1986 and 1991 elections. Former lawmaker Harunur Rashid is also general secretary of BNP district. Former lawmaker Latifur Rahman is naeb-e-amir of the district Jamaat and member of its majlish-e-srah (central working committee).