Election 2008Hectic Campaign in Chittagong-8

AL counts on minority vote as BNP eyes 'stronghold' Bakalia

14 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Shahidul Islam, Chittagong

L-R: Nurul Islam and Shamsul Alam

All eyes are riveted to the prestigious Chittagong-8 (Kotwali) constituency, where two business magnates Nurul Islam B.Sc and Md Shamsul Alam have locked horns in the polls battle. Nurul Islam, an industrialist, writer and social worker, has long been associated with politics too; and currently holds the post of vice- president of Chittagong city Awami League. His rival Shamsul Alam is a new face in the politics. He hails from a traditional and respected business family. Sources said, Shamsul actually wanted to contest the poll on Awami League (AL) ticket and he persuaded City Mayor and Chittagong AL President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury by using his good offices. The mayor also was wanted to see Shamsul as an AL candidate in Chittagong-8 instead of Nurul Islam, sources close to them said. Shamsul visited the residence of Mohiuddin many a times prior to finalisation of nomination. As things did not go as per his expectation, a desperate Shamsul took no time to knock the door of BNP leader Abdullah Al Noman, who is believed to be instrumental in paving the way for Shamsul in his own seat. To accommodate Shamsul in Chittagong-8, Noman also shifted his candidature to a new seat -- Chittagong-9 (Doublemooring-Pahartali). AL's Nurul Islam is vying from Chittagong-8 seat for the first time. He earlier had contested twice from Chittagong-10, which is now Chittagong-7 (Boalkhali-Chandgaon), and in both occasions (1991 and 1996) conceded defeat to BNP candidates Sirajul Islam and M Morshed Khan respectively. It is believed that strong lobbying with party high command brought him nomination despite stiff opposition from the mayor. The two candidates are in hectic campaign now, utilising every moment, to touch every corner of the 14 wards in Chittagong-8 and woo 3,21,752 voters. There are 41 wards in the city. Alongside party leaders, activists and supporters, they have engaged family members including wife, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends and kith-and-kin in electoral campaign. Nurul Islam tries to woo voters by telling them to consider his 'extensive' social works especially in establishing over 20 educational and charitable institutions in Boalkhali, Chandgaon and Bakalia areas. Another advantage that he is looking forward to cash in is the number of minority voters in the constituency. Of the 3. 21 lakh voters, around 38 per cent belong to the community and he hopes to cast all. His rival Shamsul is also eyeing his 'vote-bank' in Bakalia, from where he hails and where he resides. There are about one lakh voters in Bakalia, traditionally known as a BNP-dominant area.