Sirajganj 4, 5 Constituencies
BNP-Jamaat discord over ticket triggers tension
Golam Mostafa Jibon, Sirajganj
BNP and Jamaat-e-Isami, two main partners in the ruling 4-party alliances, are in a face-off situation over nomination in Sirajganj-4 and Sirajganj-5 constituencies in the coming election.Sirajganj-5 comprises Belkuchi and Kamarkhanda upazilas while Sirajganj-4 covers Ullahpara upazila. Nomination seekers from the two parties in the two constituencies have started pre-polls campaign, raising tension among local leaders and activists of the parties. Sirajganj-5 is predominantly a weavers' area, from where Awami League's Abdul Latif Biswas was elected in 1996 election. In 2001 election, 4-party alliance candidate Justice Mozammel Haque was elected from there with BNP ticket. He secured 1,18,342 votes against 54,830 of Abdul Latif Biswas. Sources close to Justice Haque said he started campaign after assurance of nomination by prime minister and party chief Khaleda Zia while Sirajganj district jamaat Ameer Ali Alam is also in the field, holding meetings and meeting people. He also held party workers meetings, urging them to launch an all out campaign, party sources said. The two candidates are moving door to door. This correspondent visited different areas in Sirajganj-5 constituency and talked to local leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat. Some BNP leaders seeking anonymity said BNP is divided into three groups, allegedly because of lack of activities by Justice Haque since the last election. Of the groups, one is led by senior joint secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (ICD) central committee Amirul Islam Khan and another by local BNP leader Golam Mowla Bablu, who are also nomination aspirants, they said. In Sirajganj-4, BNP's Akbor Ali was elected in 1991 election. AL's Abdul Latif Mirza bagged the seat in 2001, getting 130241 votes against Akbar Ali's 100692. Local political circles said AL is in a better position there now because of in-fighting in BNP. Abdul Latif Mirza and Akbor Ali are seeking nomination from the area now. But Dhaka city Jamaat Ameer Rafiqul Alam Khan has launched campaign in the area. Feud between BNP and Jamaat has intensified over nomination from Sirajganj- 4 as well. Both are lobbying in Dhaka with their party activists have already launched campaign. When contacted, Jamaat Ali Alam said, he will win the election if nominated. He claimed that he worked for the people in the area in the last four and a half years. Justice Mozammel Haque also said he will seek nomination and hopes for victory again. Abdul Latif Mirza said he does politics for people's welfare and people will vote him.
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