Keeping it in the family

Senior politicians of both Awami League (AL) and BNP are facing challenges within their families in Chattogram, with their sons also vying for respective parties' nomination for the upcoming national election.

In Chattogram-1 constituency, AL leader and Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain and his son Mahabubur Rahman have submitted nomination forms to secure AL's ticket.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam and his son Mujibur Rahman submitted nomination forms to contest at both Chattogram-8 and 9 constituencies.

“Although both my father and I have collected party nomination forms, I would accept whatever party high command decides,” said Mujibur Rahman. 

Nurul Islam echoed the same view when contacted.

AL lawmaker Shamshul Hoque Chowdhury and his son Nazmul Hoque Chowdhury collected nomination papers to contest the polls from Chattogram-12 constituency.

From BNP, the party's vice chairman Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury and his son Samir Quader Chowdhury both collected party nominations papers for Chattogram-6.

Contacted, Samir said, “Our party is giving emphasis on the participation of youths in politics. So, I am confident of getting nomination in this constituency.”

Asked about Giasuddin collecting nomination form for the same constituency, Samir said his father has also collected nomination paper for another constituency.

“Of the two of us, whoever gets the nomination, I am confident about the party's victory in this constituency,” he said.

In Chattogram-4, both BNP Vice-Chairman Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin and his son Mir Mohammad Helaluddin are contending to get the party ticket for the next general polls.

Helal told The Daily Star that his father would be the most eligible candidate in this constituency if the party gives nomination considering seniority and contributions to the party.

But he presumes that he would be the pick in case the party high command decides to take a chance on a promising young aspirant.

BNP Central Committee Member Shamsul Alam and his son Mohammad Shouib submitted nomination forms for Chattogram-9 constituency.

Recognising his father as the most competent candidate, Shouib said, “I have collected the party nomination form just to have an experience... I want to be more involved in politics following the footsteps of my father.”

Adviser to the BNP chairperson Golam Akbar Khondoker and his son Tarek Akbar Khondoker collected nomination forms for Chattogram-6 constituency.

Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, joint general secretary of BNP's Chattogram south district unit, and his son Osman Chowdhury are vying to get the BNP ticket from Chattogram-15 constituency.

Same applies for Manirul Islam, chairman of Borotakia Group, and his son Niaz Morshed, as both collected BNP nomination papers to contest from Chattogram-1 constituency.