Election 2008Barisal Division

Four-party nominees still fighting rebels in 7 seats

23 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

From Left: Shahidul Haque Jamal, Zoynul Abedin, Shahidul Alam Talukdar, Siddikur Rahman Manna and Dr Sultan Ahmed.

With only six days left for the national election, four-party alliance nominees are still fighting rebel candidates in seven out of 21 constituencies of Barisal division. The alliance is trying to persuade the rebel candidates to pull out of the polls race and support nominees. Five rebel BNP candidates are contesting in six constituencies against party nominees. The last date for withdrawal of candidature was December 11. Former whip Shahidul Haque Jamal of Barisal-2 and Pirojpur-1, BNP law affairs secretary Zoynul Abedin of Barisal-3, former lawmaker Shahidul Alam Talukdar of Patuakhali-2, former lawmaker Dr. Rustam Ali Farazi of Pirojpur-3 and Siddikur Rahman Manna of Bhola-3 are still in the race as independent candidates. They became independent candidates after failing to get party tickets following accusations of having close ties with expelled BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. The four-party has one constituency in the division where they let candidates of BNP and Jamaat battle as rivals. In Barguna-1, Dr. Sultan Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami is in the race against alliance nominee BNP's Khondokar Mahbub Hossain as an independent candidate. Party insiders said top leaders of the party including its chairperson Khaleda Zia in last few days talked to many rebel candidates and urged them to withdraw their candidature. The party sources said they hoped the rebel candidates will withdraw in favour of alliance nominees. Meanwhile, BNP's Zahiruddin Swapan of Barisal-1 and Shah Abul Hossain of Barisal-4 extended their support to party nominees in their constituencies. They had also filed nomination paper as independent candidates. The sources said, as per Khelada's desire, Swapan will monitor party election activities with the central team. He will not visit his area to avoid intra-party conflict, they added.