AL faces tough contest in 3 Thakurgaon municipalities

Contest by 'rebels' and intra-party feud put the Awami League (AL) nominated mayoral candidates in Thakurgaon, Pirganj and Ranishankoil municipalities of the district under tough challenge as BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami filed single candidates there for tomorrow's mayoral election.

In Thakurgaon, Awami League-backed candidate is Tahmina Akhter, convener of Jubo Mohila League of the district unit, while former mayor of the municipality and also former president of Thakurgaon upazila unit of AL Solaiman Ali Sarcar is in the race as independent candidate. 

The contestant from BNP is Mirza Foisol Amin, senior vice-president of the district unit of the party, also younger brother of BNP's acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.   

Several prominent AL leaders in the district are not working cordially in favour of the party nominee, party insiders said.

Seeking anonymity, several local party leaders said Tahmina Akhter was nominated against their choice and so, they are virtually inactive in the campaign for her.

Solaiman Ali Sarcar, 'rebel' candidate of the party, approach voters in different areas of Thakurgaon town yesterday, the last day of campaign before the municipality election to be held tomorrow. Photo: Star

Besides, AL's rebel candidate Solaiman Ali Sacar seems to be in an advantageous position at Islamnagar, known as stronghold of AL in the municipality.

The situation apparently leads BNP candidate to a suitable position.     

However, General Secretary of district Awami League Sadek Kuraishi claimed that local leaders and activists are working in favour of the party candidates.    

Another independent candidate in Thakurgaon municipal polls is Mahfuzul Islam.

In Pirganj, Kosirul Islam from Awami League, Md Raziur Rahman from BNP, Golam Hossain from Jatiya Party and Alamgir Kabir as independent candidate are contesting in the mayoral election.

Two rival factions are active in Pirganj upazila AL politics -- one led by acting president of AL's upazila unit AL Ekramul Haque and the other led by its joint secretary Kosirul Islam.

As Kosirul Islam got party nomination, his rival Ekramul's men are virtually inactive in the election campaign which helps BNP candidate in the race. 

In Ranishankoil, Alamgir Sarcar from AL, Mokaram Hossain from Jamaat, Samsul Arefin from Jatiya Party and Enamul Haque from Nagorik Oikya are in the mayoral race.

Alamgir is popular among the younger generation but senior leaders of two factions in local Awami League politics, one led by lawmaker Selina Jahan Lita and the other led by upazila unit President of AL Soidul Haque are hardly playing any role to see the party candidate winner, said several local leaders of Jubo League and Chhatra League.        

As many as 52,918 voters in Thakurgaon municipality are expected to exercise their right to franchise through 21 polling centres while the number of voters in Pirganj and Ranishankoil municipalities is 18,053 and 11,408 respectively.

The two municipalities have nine polling centres each.

In Thakurgaon municipality, four candidates will vie for the mayoral post, 52 for councillor posts and 16 for the posts of councillors reserved for women in the December 30 polls.

Nur Islam was elected councillor without contest from ward No 11.

In Pirganj, four persons will vie for the mayoral post, 40 for councillor posts and 10 for the posts of councillors reserved for women.  

In Ranishankoil, four candidates will vie for the mayoral post, 32 for councillor posts and 11 for the posts of councillors reserved for women.  

District Election Officer Shukur Mahmud Mia said they are taking necessary measures to ensure a free, fair and credible election in the three municipalities.