Election 20082 Alliances Lock Horn For 4 Satkhira Seats

4-party for retaining them, grand alliance for victory

28 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Satkhira

All the four constituencies in the district are likely to see today a major contest between the nominees of Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance and BNP-led four-party alliance. The grand alliance fielded candidates two each from AL and Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) while the BNP-led alliance fielded three candidates from Jamaat and one candidate from BNP. Four-party alliance that won all the four seats in 2001 election is desperate to retain them while the grand alliance is also trying to win the seats this time. Satkhia-1 (Tala-Kalaroa) constituency will see a duel fight between the candidates of grand alliance and four-party alliance. BNP leader Habibul Islam Habib was elected lawmaker, defeating district AL President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the seat in 2001. The opponent alliances have fielded the same persons to contest from the seat this time too. However, Habibul Islam Habib, facing several cases including Tala upazila BNP president ABM Altaf Hossain murder case, is in an awkward position. In Satkhira-2 (Sadar) constituency, the grand alliance has nominated JP central Vice-President MA Jabbar against four-party alliance candidate former Jamaat lawmaker Maulana Abdul Khaleque who was elected from the seat in 2001. Although the constituency is a stronghold of Jamaat, a tough fight is likely between the two major candidates as Jamaat leader Abdul Khaleque, accused in two cases, is facing 'image crisis'. So, there is a bright chance, to capture the seat from Jamaat by the grand alliance candidate in the coming election. In Satkhira-3 (Assassuni, Debhata and four unions in Kaliganj upazila), four-party alliance has nominated former Jamaat lawmaker Maulana Riasat Ali while AL-led grand alliance fielded Bangladesh Swa-dhinata Chikitsak Parishad president Prof AFM Ruhul Haque. Maulana Riasat Ali is facing trouble as local BNP leader advocate Barun Kumar Biswas is also in the polls race while grand alliance leaders and activists are working to win the seat. In Satkhira-4 (Shyam-nagar and eight unions in Kaliganj upazila) constituency, four-party nominated former Jamaat lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam while JP presidium member Golam Reza was fielded by grand alliance. Gazi Nazrul is now facing image crisis as he is a charge-sheeted accused in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission for amassing wealth beyond his legal income. Gazi Nazrul Islam was elected from the seat in 2001 election. Golam Reza was convicted to eight months rigorous imprisonment in a case filed with Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court and he was released on bail by the court. Despite the charge, the two candidates are major contestants in the seat as other candidates -- Sheikh Hasan Ali of Zaker Party and Abdul Hai of NAP (Bhasani) do not seem be any match for them.