The difference between the BNP and the Jamaat has sharpened centering the fielding of candidates in the ensuing upazila elections, as candidates representing both the parties are in the race in the different places.
This is seen as a clear defiance of the directive of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. She had asked all concerned to field single candidate on behalf of the BNP-led 19-party alliance to ensure victory. But as there are rival candidates within the party and also among alliance partners, the instruction appears to have fallen on deaf ear.
In Golapganj upazila in Sylhet, Jamaat leader Nazmul Islam is contesting the polls for the post of Upazila chairman while three BNP men are also contesting for the post. The two parties could not reach any consensus in the upazila. Nazmul Islam and his party men are campaigning for him while the BNP leaders — Imran Ahmed Chowdhury, Jilal Ahmed and Akbar Ali — are also working hard to win the election scheduled on February 19. “I am contesting the polls with the support of my party,” said Nazmul Islam.
In Zakiganj upazila, two BNP leaders are contesting the polls for the post of Upazila chairman. BNP backed Ikbal Ahmed is contesting for the post of Upazila chairman while Saifuddin Khaled is also in the race as a rival candidate. “BNP supported me and I am the 19-party-backed candidate,” Ikbal Ahmed told The New Nation. Saifuddin Khaled said that he was contesting the polls with the support of the grassroots level leaders and workers.
In Nachole upazila of Chapainawabganj, BNP has two candidates and Jamaat has one candidate for the post of chairman. Secretary of Nachole thana BNP M Mazidul Hoque, BNP leader and incumbent upazila vice-chairman Abu Taher and Jamaat leader and current upazila chairman Advocate Sirajul Islam are also in the race.
Beyond the BNP and Jamaat, Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, two partners of the 19-party alliance, also fielded their candidates in different upazilas, particularly in the Sylhet region. “We are contesting the polls as we have a large number of supporters in several upazilas,” said Maulana Muktar Hossain, a Jamiyat-backed candidate for chairman post in Dhirain upazila of Sunamganj.
BNP leaders are contacting Advocate Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury, a former MP and acting secretary general of Jamiyat, to convince him. Khelafat Majlis secretary general Mufti Mahfuzul Haque said that in the local elections, there is little scope to extend support to party backed candidate. So their party leaders are contesting the polls without party banner, he added.
Similar reports were reaching from some other upazilas. BNP has formed a central committee to coordinate the upazila elections. The first and the second phase of the elections are going to be held on February 19 and 27 respectively.
BNP vice chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury visited Sylhet and held meetings with the leaders of his party and the alliance partners to field single candidate in every upazilas of the division. He told The New Nation that they had been trying to ensure fielding of single candidate for every upazila. If anyone violates party instruction, tough actions would be taken against them, he said.
