AL riven by division at Sitakunda, BNP no-show at Mirsarai
Some ruling party leaders and activists in Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) constituency are allegedly not campaigning wholeheartedly due to internal feud between incumbent lawmaker Didarul Alam and upazila Chairman SM Al Mamun.
Though the two Awami League leaders claimed that they are united and working round the clock to ensure victory of the party-nominated candidate (Didarul Alam), locals and party insiders believe otherwise.
On the other hand, Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai) constituency is flooded with the AL candidate's campaign materials while it's hard to believe BNP has fielded a candidate there or is contesting the polls.
This correspondent visited several areas of Sitakunda and Mirsarai constituencies on Friday and spoke to locals and political leaders and activists. Many voters expressed concern over holding a free, fair election and feared violence by Jamaat-Shibir men. Mentionable, Sitakunda and Mirsarai portion of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway were plagued by mindless violence during the 10th national election in 2014, including arson attacks, killing and vandalism by Jamaat-Shibir men.
While visiting Sitakunda's various areas including the central market, Baraiyadhala, Kumira, Banshbaria and Bhatiyari, this correspondent saw huge banners and posters of AL candidate Didarul Alam.
There were also some posters of BNP-led alliance's Md Ishaque Chowdhury and Jatiya Party's Md Didarul Kabir.
Many local AL leaders and activists, said there was a longstanding political rift between Mamun and Didarul. They said Mamun had sought nomination for the constituency but Didarul managed the party ticket for the second time.
As a result, “Some are unhappy about the decision, which is also confusing the voters,” said an upazila AL leader, seeking anonymity. He said the division might become costly on the election day.
Contacted, Abdullah Al Baker Bhuiyan, upazila unit AL secretary, said, “Root level party workers are disgruntled over the issue… it will depend on Didarul how he handles the situation before the polls.”
Meanwhile, some party leaders said Mamun is joining Didarul's campaigns to drum up support.
But prospective voters are still not convinced.
Kamal Uddin, 55, a vegetable vendor at Sitakunda Bazar, said “I'm observing the situation… I will cast my vote if there's a peaceful atmosphere on the election day.”
Abu Rahmat Ullah, 37, a tea-seller in Bhatiyari area, said, “I hope the election would be free and fair, not marred by some internal feud.”
Contacted, upazila Chairman Mamun said, “Didarul and I had competition… but we're not against each other. We're united now. The confusion among grassroots leaders and activists will not go away overnight but the situation is improving.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, two electoral camps of Didarul were vandalised and torched in Gozaria area of Sitakunda municipality. AL leaders blamed BNP-Jamaat men for that.
Asked, BNP candidate Ishaque Chowdhury said, “The incident took place following their [Mamun and Didarul] infighting. They are now blaming us [BNP] for that. I'm sure they will also file a case against the BNP men.”
Contacted, Didarul Alam denied any feud between him and Mamun. He said, “Both of us are working together to gift Sitakunda constituency to Sheikh Hasina. And together, we will win the election through people's vote.”
BNP NO-SHOW AT MIRSARAI
With national election less than a week away, it's quite impossible to say whether BNP is contesting for Chattogram-1 constituency.
This correspondent visited the upazila's different areas including municipality, Hadi Fakirhat and Borotakia areas and saw thousands of banners and posters in favour of AL candidate Engr Mosharraf Hossain.
Posters of candidates from other parties were also seen, though not in large numbers. But election material of BNP-led alliance's Nurul Amin was nowhere to be seen. Locals were also unaware of BNP's election activities.
Latiful Haque, 55, a resident of Mirsarai College Road area, said, “The AL candidate continue to campaign in my area but we are yet to see the BNP candidate.”
Echoing him, Rafiqul Alam, a businessman of Hadi Fakirhat Bazar, said “We don't even know if BNP is contesting the polls.”
Contacted, Nurul Amin alleged that the ruling party activists tore off their posters and threatened his supporters. “We are being harassed continuously… how can we campaign in this situation?”
Denying the allegation, Mirsarai upazila AL unit President Sheikh Ataur Rahman said, “As an organisation, BNP is weak. That's why, he [Nurul] is afraid of campaigning. All other candidates are campaigning freely. He is the only one who is complaining.”
Comments