Election 2008

New faces pose challange to verterans in Ctg-2,3

26 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Abdullah Al Mahmud, Ctg

New faces are challenging veteran candidates of opponent electoral alliances in Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-3 constituencies. Chittagong-2 comprising Fatikchhari, an upazila mostly covered with hills and forests, is considered as a stronghold of Awami League (AL) that won the seat in 1991, 1996 and 2001. AL-led grand alliance has fielded AL new face and former upazila (Sadar) chairman ATM Peyarul Islam here since Rafiqul Anwar, who won the seat for AL in 1996 and 2001, is convicted in an EPR case. The BNP-led four-party alliance nominated BNP stalwart Salauddin Quader Chowdhury to contest for this constituency. SQ Chowdhury is also contesting from Chittagong-6 (Rangunia). As increase of minority voters due to delimitation clouds his prospect in Rangunia, SQ Chowdhury has focused his attention mainly on Fatikchhari. Md Liakat Ali Chowdhury of Gono Forum is the other candidate in this constituency. A tough contest is likely between grand alliance candidate ABM Abul Kashem Master of AL and four-party alliance candidate Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury of BNP in Chittagong-3 (Sitakunda and CCC Wards No 9 and 10), a coastal area buzzing with industrial activities along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. In 2001, former BNP minister LK Siddiqui defeated former AL lawmaker ABM Abul Kashem by 21,476 votes. But the then AL rebel Md Nurul Mostafa Kamal Chowdhury (16,424 votes) and Islami Jatiya Oikya Front candidate Md Didarul Kabir (4,971 votes), who together bagged 21,395 votes contributing to AL's defeat, have joined hands with grand alliance candidate ABM Abul Kashem this time. Besides, inclusion of two CCC wards with 81,589 voters is likely to benefit AL to some extent. Although a new face in politics, highly educated BNP candidate Md Aslam Chowdhury enjoys a good reputation for his association with different social welfare activities in the area, said locals. A hard contest is likely between BNP new face Aslam and veteran AL candidate Kashem. Md Yousuf Alam of NPP and Md Mousod Dulla of Bangladesh Communist Party are also contesting for the constituency. Chittagong (North) district AL General Secretary MA Salam finds a bright prospect for AL in Chittagong-3 (Sitakunda) while expecting a win in Chittagong-2 as well. “Although ATM Peyarul is a new face he enjoys popularity and support in the locality. Former lawmaker Rafiqul Anwar is also working to help Peyarul retain the seat for AL,” MA Salam told The Daily Star. BNP Chittagong (North) district unit leader M Nazim Uddin also expressed optimism for four-party alliance victory in Chittagong-2 and 3 constituencies.