'It is people's verdict against anti-liberation forces'

Defeat of Nizami, Subhan talk of the town in Pabna

30 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Pabna

Defeat of Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami and central Jamaat leader Moulana Abdus Subhan in the ninth parliament election have given rise to lively discussion among mass people in the district. Nizami and Abdus Subhan contested with four-party alliance tickets from Pabna-1 (Santhia and part of Bera upazila) and Pabna-5 (Pabna Sadar) constituencies. Nizami, who was elected from Pabna-1 constituency in 2001 election, later became a minister of the BNP-led four-party alliance government. This time he lost to AL leader advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku who got 1,45,012 votes. Nizami bagged 1,22,944 votes, election office sources said. Nizami cast his vote in Boalmari Madrasa polling centre near his residence in Santhia upazila. At the centre, he got 1,111 votes while AL nominee Tuku bagged 1,509 votes. Similar picture was found in most of the polling centres in Santhia upazila. “During the four-party government Jamaat leaders tormented the common people here. Nizami, also then minister, did not work for his constituency. Besides, people, especially young generation, became vocal against war crimes. So people rejected him through ballot,” AL leader Md Mirajul Islam, also mayor of Santhia municipality, told this correspondent over phone yesterday. Jamaat leader Moulana Abdus Subhan, who had won with a great difference in Pabna-5 constituency in 2001, lost to AL nominee Golam Faruk Prince in the same constituency by 19,750 votes this time. Golam Faruk bagged 1,61,413 votes while Abdus Subhan 1,41,663 votes. “Moulana Subhan did not work for the mass people of Pabna. He was interested about the Jamaat-Shibir men and established different institutions for his party men. People have given a befitting answer through ballot,” said Md Jakir Hossain, secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Celebration Committee in Pabna. “Defeat of the two alleged war criminals proves that people do not want the anti-liberation forces,” freedom fighter Robiul Islam Robi, also the president of Muktijodhha Samobay Samiti, said. “This is victory of the pro-liberation people against anti-liberation forces,” said Babi Islam, a commander of the freedom fighters during the Liberation War.