With the help of CTG, only the real Awami candidates will win. SH Toronto
--- On Mon, 7/14/08, Ezajur Rahman <ezajur.rahman@q8.com> wrote:
From: Ezajur Rahman <ezajur.rahman@q8.com>
Subject: [ALOCHONA] AL candidates face party rivals in 3 city corpn polls
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, July 14, 2008, 9:46 AM
AL candidates face party rivals in 3 city corpn polls
Differences surface among alliance partners
after Badsha withdraws candidature
Courtesy New Age 14/7/08 Staff Correspondent Differences have surfaced among the AL-led alliance partners after Workers Party politburo member Fazley Hossain Badsha withdrew himself from the race for the Rajshahi mayoral post as Awami League leader Khairuzzaman Liton vowed not to withdraw his nomination for the August 4 city corporation elections.
The alliance led by the Awami League finally selected Khairuzzaman, instead of Badsha, as the alliance candidate for the mayoral post.
Badsha withdrew his nomination paper on Sunday although the alliance at a meeting on July 9 nominated him as the alliance candidate.
The Awami League candidates for two other mayoral posts, in Barisal and Sylhet, will also be facing party rivals.
The Workers Party president, Rashed Khan Menon, in reaction to Badsha's withdrawal of candidature, expressed his frustration, saying the decision would hamper united, non-communal and democratic politics.
He said his party now was no longer supporting any alliance candidates for the city corporation elections and it would make a decision in this regard after a meeting at the party forum.
Awami League presidium member Amir Hossain Amu, meanwhile, hailed the Workers Party decision saying Badsha withdrew his candidature for the sake of unity and democracy and in view of the opinions of local alliance leaders. In reply to a query as to whether Badsha's withdrawal of candidature would hamper the unity of the AL-led alliance, he told New Age Badsha had made the decision on his own, considering the sentiment of local leaders and it would not hamper the alliance unity.
The trouble for the Awami League centring on the nominations in three out of the four city corporation polls is not over yet as rival party candidates had not withdrawn their candidature. The trouble deepened as the central leaders extended support for the candidate of their choice. After Badsha's withdrawal of candidature, the Rajshahi city Awami League president, Masudul Haque Dulu, still in the mayoral race, remains a hurdle for Khairuzzaman Liton, party insiders said.
The party nominated city Awami League president, Badruddin Ahmed Kamran, now in jail, for the Sylhet mayoral post.
Awami League leaders Dewan Farid Gazi, Enamul Haque Chowdhury Bir Pratik, Abduz Zahir Chowdhury Sufian, Iftekhar Hossain Shamim, and Misbah Uddin Siraj withdrew their candidature in support of Kamran. But Kamran still faces party leader Babrul Hossain Babul, also a former Sylhet municipal chairman, in the mayoral race.
Local sources said all the party leaders were working for Kamran, but the followers of Awami League advisory council member Abul Maal Abdul Muhith were supporting Babrul.
In Khulna , the alliance nominated central Awami League AL leader Talukdar Abdul Khaleque, also the city unit president. City Awami League general secretary Mijanur Rahman Mijan and joint secretary Mallik Abid Hossain Kabir withdrew their nomination papers in support of Talukder. But he needs to face city AL leader Enayet Ali in the race.
Local sources said all the local leaders were extending support for Talukder, but Enayet has a large number of followers.
In Barisal , the party selected the city Awami League convener, Shawkat Hossain Hiron, as the mayoral candidate, and party fellows Alamgir Hossain Khan Alo and Mahmudul Huq Khan Mamun withdrew their nomination papers in support of Shawkat Hossain.
But Shawkat faces Nagarik Committee candidate Enayet Pir Khan in the mayoral race.
Enayet Pir is getting support from the followers of senior AL presidium member Amir Hosain Amu as a faction backed by the party's central leader Abul Hasnat Abdullah earlier supported Shawkat. |