Rezaul Karim , Shafiul Islam get AL tickets
The Awami League has nominated its local leader Rezaul Karim Chowdhury to perform for any office of Chattogram mayor, ending AJM Nasir Uddin’s hopes for reelection on the ruling party ticket.
Rezaul is a joint secretary of the party’s Chattogram Metropolitan unit, which Nasir is general secretary, reports bdnews24.com.
For the contest in the by-elections to Dhaka-10 parliamentary seat, the party has chosen business leader Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin in another blow to outgoing Dhaka South Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon.
Party chief Sheikh Hasina had ended Khokon’s reelection aspirations by choosing Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, who had resigned as the MP of the constituency to succeed Khokon at the location corporation.
Mohiuddin is a readymade garment entrepreneur who had served as president of the most notable trade lobby FBCCI after heading the apparel exporter’s group BGMEA.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the decisions after a meeting of the party’s parliamentary and local government elections nomination board at Hasina’s official residence the Ganabhaban in Dhaka on Saturday.
Besides Dhaka-10, the Awami League has finalised its prospects for by-elections to four parliamentary constituencies vacated after deaths of the MPs.
Central Working Committee member Amirul Alam Milon is contesting for the Bagerhat-4 seat, Krishak League General Secretary Umme Kulsum Smriti for Gaibandha-3, district unit President Shaheen Chaklader for Jashore-6 and late MP Abdul Mannan’s wife Shahdara Mannan for Bogura-1.
The by-polls to the Dhaka, Bagerhat and Gaibandha seats will be held on Mar 21.
The deadline for nomination submission is Feb 19. The scrutiny of nominations will end on Feb 23 while the last date for withdrawing candidature is Feb 29.
The Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule of the by-elections to the two other parliamentary constituencies combined with the Chattogram City Corporation polls on Sunday.
Nasir, who had been elected mayor in the 2015 city corporation elections, held a rally against terrorism, militancy and drugs recently in a show of strength prior to the nomination.
He was praised for his efforts over a couple of issues, but criticisms over disputes with local leaders and the waterlogging problem have overshadowed his achievements.
Freedom fighter Rezaul, a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League, is an associate of the influential Bahaddar family at Bahaddarhat in the city.
In an immediate a reaction to the party decision on his nomination, he told bdnews24.com that he was grateful to Hasina and the people of the location for valuing the role he played in his political career.
He claimed himself to become a follower of the late mayor and Chattogram Awami League chief ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, whose bitter rivalry with Nasir continued to make headlines even after his death.
“I'll try my best easily am elected mayor,” Rezaul said.
