Poles shifting in Ctg city AL

New polarisations have emerged within Chattogram city Awami League following the death of its former president ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury last year.

Insiders say these rifts may affect the city AL's role in the upcoming general election.

Khorshed Alam Sujan, vice president of the unit, who was a close aide of Mohiuddin, joined the group of Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, who was a rival of Mohiuddin. Party sources said Sujan did this in the hope of securing the AL ticket in the coming election.

Sujan, however, rejected the notion. “Nasir has nothing to do with nomination. The party president will nominate candidates depending on different reports.” 

He told The Daily Star that he joined Nasir's group to unite the rivalling factions.

“She [Sheikh Hasina] first nominated me for the Port-Patenga constituency in 2008. However, it was given to MA Latif later for several reasons. Since I am dedicated to the party, I accepted it without saying anything. I hope she will consider me this time.”

When Sujan joined Nasir's group, the followers of Mohiuddin were left without a leader, party sources said.

Moreover, the former mayor's son Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury Nowfel has also been reluctant to engage in factional rivalries.

Nowfel told The Daily Star that AL President Sheikh Hasina had made him central organising secretary           of the party to strengthen party activities.

“Those who talk about factional rivalry are trying to weaken the party. It is true that my father had a huge number of followers as he had a long political career. After the demise of my father, their usual political activities are going on,” he added.

Party insiders say Mohiuddin, in his final years, prepared Nowfel to contest in the general election in Kotwali-Bakalia constituency where Jatiya Party leader Ziauddin Bablu was elected in the last election.

Nowfel said he was willing to take part in the election. “If the prime minister nominates me, I will contest. I am not eyeing any specific constituency.”

Meanwhile, MA Latif, MP of the Port-Patenga constituency, who had a long-standing feud with Mohiuddin, recently started to have frequent communication with the followers of his dead rival while Sujan, his competitor in the race for the       AL ticket, is getting close to Mayor Nasir.

Latif told The Daily Star that he was not part of any faction and always remained with those who worked for people and development. He avoided giving a direct answer when asked if he thought Nasir was working for the people and development.

Like others, he also said factional rivalry had nothing to do in getting AL nominations in the upcoming election.

Towards the end of his life Mohiuddin inspired M Manjur Alam Manju, who left AL in 2008, to return and vie for AL nomination at the  constituency of Afsarul Amin Chowdhury.

Afsarul, a former minister and currently MP of Chittagong 11, had a long-standing feud with Mohiuddin and faced his strong opposition while getting nominated.

Manju listened to Mohiuddin and accelerated social activities eyeing the next general election, becoming a concern for Afsarul.

Manju told The Daily Star that he always had a close relation with Mohiuddin.

“Mohiuddin asked me to take preparations for seeking Awami League nomination and I agreed. If the prime minister nominates me I will contest in the election,” he said.

Afsarul also said the prime minister was the only person to decide about nominations.