Election 2008Barisal-5

Rebel BNP, AL men pull out for party nominees

19 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Awami League leader Mahbubuddin Bir Bikram, independent candidate for Barisal-5, yesterday announced his withdrawal from the polls race in support of AL candidate Col (retd) Zahid Faruk Shamim. Mahbubuddin, popularly known as SP Mahbub, made the announcement at a programme arranged at the temporary office of the AL. “Now it is the time to get united to regain this important seat. Following the principle of Bangabandhu and in compliance with the party discipline, I have decided to discontinue my election campaign and work for party candidate Shamim,” said Mahbub. Hailing Mahbub's decision, Col Shamim said they now expect win in the constituency that was earlier considered as the fortress of BNP. City and district AL leaders, BCC Mayor Mojibar Rahman Sarwar and a good number of grand alliance activists were present at the programme where Mahbub was greeted with a bouquet of flowers. Meanwhile, former lawmaker Zahiruddin Swapon, central BNP information and research secretary, and independent candidate for Barisal-1 constituency, stopped his election campaign three days ago after BNP candidate Abdus Sobhan regained his candidature through an order from the Supreme Court. When contacted, Zahiruddin Swapan said, “I belong to BNP. I have decided to refrain from the election race as the party candidate regained his candidature.”