M M Jasim :
The syndicate doing nomination business centering the Parliamentary election has become disappointed as Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and acting Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman are controlling everything.
Both AL and BNP sources said, many top leaders of the two parties awarded party tickets in the past. Some of the senior leaders and other influential persons also dominated the nomination process. Thus they made their fortunes through underhand dealings.
But they are upset this time at the selection process because the high ups of the both parties are controlling the whole system directly.
AL sources said, the party leaders have taken the 11th Parliamentary election as challenge and are planning to win the election giving top priority. They have also agreed to sacrifice their favourite candidates in the greater interest of the party. They will just submit their findings to the Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. As a result, Sheikh Hasina will give final nod after analysing the information.
In the meantime, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina got details of the candidates using different intelligence agencies.
In this circumstances, the scope to do business in the name of ensuring nomination is no more. So, they are very much unhappy.
AL Parliamentary Selection Board Member Kazi Zafarullah told The New Nation, no one except Sheikh Hasina, knows who will get the AL tickets.
“No body will get the AL nomination maintaining lobby with any leader and with Parliamentary Selection Board Member. We are just providing the information to AL President, otherwise we have nothing to do,” he said.
BNP sources said, BNP’ acting President Tarique Rahman took the interview of every candidate by Skype and through other social media from London. He asked the party leaders to enrich him with the names of the candidates branding one, two and three stars. The three stars will get highest priority.
On the other hand, Tarique Rahman are collecting detail information about the nomination seekers using his another source. Later, he will finalise the list just probably on November 28.
The last date of withdrawal of the nomination papers is November 29.
BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said, qualified candidates only will get BNP tickets to contest in the upcoming election.
“Our party’s Acting Chairman knows everything. His decision will be the final decision. I believe that no body could influence Tarique Rahman about giving ticket to any unpopular candidate,” he said.
Meanwhile, the candidates of both parties are now busy with last time struggle to attract the party’s decision makers, especially the top decision makers using many ways.
Some AL tickets aspirants are trying to go to Sheikh Hasina with her relatives and other favourite persons. But the AL sources said, she has closed any entrance to her office for the aspirants and even for her close relatives about the nomination.
It is heard that the AL has already finalised its candidates’ names who will fight in the 11th National election with Nouka (Boat) symbol. The party has planned to leave 70 seats to its allies partners.
On the other hand, the aspirants of BNP ticket are continuing their lobbying with the Parliamentary Selection Board Members and with those influential persons who are very near to Tarique Rahman. Some of the nomination seekers are now staying in London to convince Tarique Rahman.
A nomination aspirant wishing anonymity told The New Nation, “I came to London after facing interview to inform my political activities to our top leader Tarique Rahman. I think he will give me nomination.”
