Longest serving lawmaker in northern districts

30 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Mojibor Rahman has been elected parliament member from Lalmonirhat-2 constituency for the 7th term, making a record in northern districts. This time, as a Jatiya Party nominee, he got 1,62,678 votes against 61,118 of his nearest rival Abu Saleh Mohammad Helal of BNP. Mojibor is 70 now, the oldest lawmaker in northern districts. "People love me because I love them and I remain with them in their good and bad days. This is why they elect me again and again," he told this correspondent yesterday. He began his career as headmaster of Vadai High School in 1952. In 1973, he was elected chairman of Vadai Union Parishad in Adidmari upazila. "Since then, as public representative, I am working for people of the area," he said. In 1979 election, Mojibor with a BNP ticket defeated Karim Uddin and entered parliament as a member for the first time. Later he joined Jatiya Party. He was elected Adidmari upazila chairman in 1985. In the 1986 election, he was elected MP with a JP ticket and after 1988 election, he was given the post of Lalmonirhat district council chairman. In 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2008 parliament elections, Mojibor was elected from the same constituency with JP ticket. "I did not take part in the controversial election of February 15, 1996." Mojibor said, "I want to serve the people of my constituency as long as I live." He said, "We have got a great opportunity to do massive development works in greater Rangpur as grand alliance is going to form the government." He said he founded a number of schools and colleges in Aditmari and Kaliganj upazilas, where students in large numbers are getting education. “It is a pleasure for me to see so many youths being educated at the institutions”.