Internal feud rises as local AL divided over UZ polls candidacy in 3 N dists

2 January 2009, 18:00 PM

Rafique Sarker, Rangpur

Internal feud has surfaced among Awami League leaders in Rangpur, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts over candidacy for the posts of chairmen in the upcoming upazila parishad election. Despite holding several meetings, the committees of the concerned district units failed to settle candidates in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Kurigram Sadar upazilas. Lalmonirhat district unit AL Secretary Motiar Rahmanh, former secretary Bhola Patwari, organizing secretary Golam Mostafa Sawpon, and Sadar upazila AL secretary Shafiqul Islam are contesting for the post of Sadar upazila parishad chairman. Motiar with the symbol of 'umbrella', Bhola Patwari with 'pineapple', Sawpon with 'chair' and Shadiqul Islam with 'fish' are conducting campaigns. AL district unit held meetings to set a candidate through consensus but none of the four leaders agreed to withdraw their candidacy. In Rangpur Sadar upazila, district AL Joint Convener Mochaddeque Hosen Bablu, and district AL unit member Ataur Rahman Babu are contesting. The Election Commission has given Mochhaddeq the symbol 'rickshaw' and chair to Ataur Rahman. Both have already started election campaign. Rangpur district unit convener of AL, Monsur Ahmed said the committee decided to support Mochhaddeq Hosen in the upazila parishad election. Another group of AL leaders in the district unit have decided to support Ataur Rahman Babu. AL Kurigram district unit Vice President Monju Mondol with 'umbrella' symbol is contesting against Sramik League district unit convener Abdul Karim Modhu ('pineapple' symbol) for the post of chairman in Kurigram Sadar upazila. District unit secretary of AL, Zafar Ali said Monju Mondol is the candidate of AL and most of the members of the district unit have extended support to him. District AL President Maj Gen (retd) AMSA Ameen, on the other hand, said, “Upazila parishad election is not a political one and the parties have no role to select candidates. Anyone can be candidate in the election and Awami League district unit should not recognize anyone as their candidate for the upazila chairmanship, Ameen added.