Election 2008Naogaon-4

Rebel AL veteran cause of grand alliance's concern

20 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Saidur Rahman, Naogaon

The presence of veteran Awami League leader Imajuddin Pramanik in the election race as an independent candidate after failing to get party ticket would cause trouble for Grand Alliance candidate SM Abdul Latif in Naogaon-4 seat. The number of contestants in six parliamentary seats in Naogaon district after the deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers expired stood at 21. Of them 20 candidates are participating in the election on different party tickets. Naogaon district Awami League vice president Imajuddin Pramanik who failed to get party nomination is running from Naogaon-4 (Manda) seat as an independent candidate. Local Communist Party leader Moinul Haque Mukul and another NAP leader on condition of anonymity said, Imajuddin Pramanik won four times in national and provincial parliaments from 1970 to 1986 with the symbol "boat" and earned reputation as an expert parliamentarian. As he is now contesting the polls as an independent candidate and the leaders and workers of Manda upazila AL has got divided over the issue the victory of the four party alliance nominee in the seat became uncertain. Imajuddin Pramanik's name was at the top of the short list the upazila AL sent to the centre for final nomination but it was ignored. Awami League has nominated Manda upazila AL vice president SM Abdul Latif in Naogaon-4 constituency. Grand alliance's fresh face would have to fight BNP's former lawmaker Shamsul Alam Pramanik. Shamul Alam Pramanik won three times in the seat. AL rebel Imajuddin Pramanik said the party parliamentary board did not let him know why he was denied party nomination. He said, "If the election is free and fair I will win." A faction of the leaders and workers of Manda upazila AL locked the upazila AL office Thursday over the issue. Local people said the supporters of Imajuddin Pramanik held an election show down from his election office Thursday morning with over 100 motorcycles. Witnesses said most of the upazila AL leaders were present at Pramanik's meeting. AL parliamentary board nominee SM Abdul Latif claimed, except some individual rebels most of the leaders and workers of upazila Awami League are working for him. He however, admitted that Imajuddin Pramanik's remaining in the race would go against him.