Candidature for Sylhet-1
Ilyas stages showdown, Saifur's on Saturday
Courtesy Daily Star 7/10/08
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The BNP faction led by former lawmaker Ilyas Ali at a rally yesterday raised their demand for fielding party chief Khaleda Zia or Ilyas Ali in Sylhet-1 constituency (Sylhet Sadar).
Former finance minister and party heavyweight M Saifur Rahman won the seat in 2001 parliamentary election by defeating Awami League advisory committee member and former finance minister AMA Muhith.
Ilyas loyalists staged a showdown in Sylhet city yesterday by organising a big gathering of party men at a local community centre in the name of Eid reunion.
Meeting sources claimed that many leaders and activists from different wards in the city and union and upazila committees across the district attended the meeting.
On the other hand, Saifur loyalists have called a rally in the city on October 11 (Saturday) to give a 'befitting reply' reply to their rival faction.
“We will organise a larger one (rally) that day”, a front ranking BNP leader belonging to Saifur faction told this correspondent.
Saifur will attend the rally, party sources said.
At yesterday's rally at the community center, speakers said they will not accept a candidate for Sylhet-1 who betrayed the party and its chief Khaleda Zia during the crucial period after 1/11.
They are opportunists and played foul with the party, the speakers said. People will give them a just lesson in time, they said.
The party leadership should be selective now in choosing candidates for the upcoming parliamentary election, they said.
'Betrayers' can never be fielded again in greater interest of the nation they said and demanded Khaleda Zia or Ilyas Ali to run in the constituency.
Former district BNP chief MA Haque, acting chief of Sylhet city BNP Noman Mahmud, its former chief Ahea Reza Chowdhury, former central JCD vice-president
Former lawmaker Dilder Hossain Selim also attended the rally.
Addressing the rally, Ilays Ali said the party is still united 'except some betrayers'. The party high command will decide about those who betrayed the party after 1/11.
Under Khaleda's leadership, BNP is now more stronger than after 1/11 he said, hoping that genuine persons would be nominated to ensure victory in December 18 election.
Saifur had been absent from Sylhet since 1/11. He returned recently. At several interviews during the period, Saifur expressed his inability to continue in politics on health grounds.
He became controversial as he took stance for reforms in the party and became 'acting party chief' at the head of reformists.
However, addressing party men at Moulvibazar residence on Saturday, Saifur expressed his desire to contest in the polls from Sylhet-1.
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