bdnews24.com :
The Awami League’s candidate for Dhaka-17 maybe a former movie star but his rival HM Ershad is a ‘hero of politics’, says supporters of the Jatiya Party chief amid high drama over the seat.
Akbar Hossain Khan Pathan Farooque, a Bangla film actor, was nominated by the ruling Awami League to contest in the ‘heavyweight seat’ that comprises of the capital’s diplomatic zone and the plush areas of Gulshan and Banani. Jatiya Party headed by former military strongman HM Ershad is currently an ally of the Grand Alliance led by the Awami League. But despite their ties, Ershad gave rise to high drama by becoming a candidate for the Dhaka-17 seat. “Farooque may be a hero on the silver screen but Ershad is the hero of politics,” said Jatiya Party Presidium Member SM Faisal Chisty. Jatiya Party became an ally of the Awami League for the Dec 30 election after the BNP decided to contest the election. The alliance allotted 26 seats for the Jatiya Party but it ended up handing out nominations to 150 candidates. The lead up to the previous election in 2014 was dramatic for the Jatiya Party chief. After announcing to boycott the election, he ended up being escorted to the Combined Military Hospital by RAB personnel, where he spent many days citing ‘ill health’.
His nomination from the Dhaka-17 seat was withdrawn but Ershad was elected to parliament after winning from his other seat at his hometown in Rangpur. Later, Ershad became a special envoy to the prime minister and Jatiya Party became the main opposition in parliament. His wife Rowshan Ershad, senior co-vice chairman, became the leader of the opposition. Three leaders from Ershad’s party joined the cabinet.
This year, a new kind of drama was hinted at when Ershad fell ill just weeks before the election. After spending days at a city hospital, he left Dhaka for treatment in Singapore. In his absence, a rumour surfaced about him stepping out of the Dhaka-17 race. Ershad, due to return to Dhaka soon, will be announcing the decision upon his arrival, his party leaders have said. “Ershad was an MP of this constituency. Only he can improve the lives of people here. No one can match the work he has done. He will finish his incomplete works if elected,” said Jatiya Party leader Faisal Chisty.
The Awami League’s candidate for Dhaka-17 maybe a former movie star but his rival HM Ershad is a ‘hero of politics’, says supporters of the Jatiya Party chief amid high drama over the seat.
Akbar Hossain Khan Pathan Farooque, a Bangla film actor, was nominated by the ruling Awami League to contest in the ‘heavyweight seat’ that comprises of the capital’s diplomatic zone and the plush areas of Gulshan and Banani. Jatiya Party headed by former military strongman HM Ershad is currently an ally of the Grand Alliance led by the Awami League. But despite their ties, Ershad gave rise to high drama by becoming a candidate for the Dhaka-17 seat. “Farooque may be a hero on the silver screen but Ershad is the hero of politics,” said Jatiya Party Presidium Member SM Faisal Chisty. Jatiya Party became an ally of the Awami League for the Dec 30 election after the BNP decided to contest the election. The alliance allotted 26 seats for the Jatiya Party but it ended up handing out nominations to 150 candidates. The lead up to the previous election in 2014 was dramatic for the Jatiya Party chief. After announcing to boycott the election, he ended up being escorted to the Combined Military Hospital by RAB personnel, where he spent many days citing ‘ill health’.
His nomination from the Dhaka-17 seat was withdrawn but Ershad was elected to parliament after winning from his other seat at his hometown in Rangpur. Later, Ershad became a special envoy to the prime minister and Jatiya Party became the main opposition in parliament. His wife Rowshan Ershad, senior co-vice chairman, became the leader of the opposition. Three leaders from Ershad’s party joined the cabinet.
This year, a new kind of drama was hinted at when Ershad fell ill just weeks before the election. After spending days at a city hospital, he left Dhaka for treatment in Singapore. In his absence, a rumour surfaced about him stepping out of the Dhaka-17 race. Ershad, due to return to Dhaka soon, will be announcing the decision upon his arrival, his party leaders have said. “Ershad was an MP of this constituency. Only he can improve the lives of people here. No one can match the work he has done. He will finish his incomplete works if elected,” said Jatiya Party leader Faisal Chisty.
