Election 2008

Sylhet division now has 17 independent runners

14 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Iqbal Siddiquee, Sylhet.

As many as 17 rebel and independent candidates including some former lawmakers remained in the electoral race in different constituencies in the Sylhet division. However, 35 submitted as independent candidates for 19 seats in the region. AL man in Habiganj-2 and the JP candidate in Sylhet-4 did not withdraw their nominations even on central decisions. Besides, the grand alliance centrally decided to allow both the AL and JP candidates in Sylhet-3. The much talked runners include, former BNP lawmakers Nozir Hossain (belonging to BNP reformist faction) in Sunamganj-1, Syed Mokbul Hossain in Sylhet-6, Dewan Shamsul Abedin in Sunamganj-4, MM Shahin in Moulvibazar-2, central secretary general of a faction of Khelafat Majlish Maulana Abdur Rab Yousufi in Habiganj-2, late former JS speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury's daughter JP's Nasrin Rashid Karim in Sylhet-4 and advocate Abdul Mazid Khan in Habiganj-2. In Sunamganj-1 BNP has fielded former BMA joint secretary Dr. Rafique Chowdhury while AL fielded newcomer Moazzem Hossain Ratan in place of their former lawmaker Syed Rafiqul Haque. However, Nozir is also a candidate for Sunamganj-4, throwing a challenge to the BNP's former JS whip Fazlul Haque Aspia. In Sunamganj-3, Maulana Ishaque Amini of Khelafat Majlish is an independent runner where IOJ's former lawmaker Maulana Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury is the 4-party candidate. In Sunamganj-4, the grand alliance has JP's Mumtaj Iqbal where former lawmaker Dewan Shamsul Abedin is an independent runner. Abedin also wanted AL ticket. In Sylhet-3, BNP rebel Jubo Dal central vice-president Abdul Quaiyum Chowdhury is an independent runner with symbol 'football'. Although the grand alliance has fielded AL's former lawmaker Imran Ahmed in Sylhet-4, JP's Nasrin Rashid Karim did not accept it and she is running as an independent. Barrister Kutub Uddin Ahmed Sikder and Zobayer Ahmed Chowdhury of JP are independent runners in Sylhet-5. Former lawmaker Syed Mokbul Hossain who is running as an independent is facing former AL MP Nurul Islam Nahid. However, only Syed Mokbul Hossain among the 7 independent candidates in 5 seats of Sylhet district will be able to fight in a big way, a number of people believe. In Moulvibazar-2, former lawmaker MM Shahin is again an independent runner as he failed to bag BNP ticket. independent runner Shahin may enjoy BNP support as the BNP's Abed Raja's nomination was cancelled for loan default. In Moulvibazar district too there are 5 independent runners, but except Shahin, none could be in the scene in a big way yet. In Habiganj-2, AL's Abdul Mazid Khan did not withdraw his nomination although JP's Abid Ali Chowdhury had been given the Grand Alliance ticket. On the other hand, BNP led alliance partner Khelafat Majlish's Maulana Abdur Rab Yousufi is an independent runner here.