Laxmipur By-Polls: AL nominee had close link with Papul

Several members of the Awami League Parliamentary Board have questioned its decision nominating Nuruddin Chowdhury Nayan, general secretary of Laxmipur district AL, for contesting the Laxmipur-2 by-election.

At a meeting of the board yesterday, they pointed out that Nayan had close ties with Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul, who lost the Laxmipur-2 seat upon his conviction by a Kuwaiti court, said meeting sources.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader initiated the discussion at the meeting at the Gono Bhaban with Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina in the chair, mentioned the sources.

Later, most of the board members took part in the discussion and placed their arguments.

Earlier at a meeting on Saturday, the board gave the party ticket to Nayan. The meeting was then adjourned for a day.

As the meeting resumed yesterday, one of the board members said Nayan was an associate of Papul and the Anti-Corruption Commission summoned him.

In June last year, the ACC summoned Nayan for quizzing him in connection with the allegations of money laundering against Papul, who was an independent lawmaker. It also issued notices to several banks, asking them to provide it with information on Nayan's bank accounts.

At yesterday's meeting, several board members also talked about two other nomination seekers -- Ehsanul Kabir, health affairs secretary of Laxmipur district AL, and Harunur Rashid, youth and sports secretary of the party's central executive committee. Rashid is also former lawmaker of Laxmipur-2.

The board, however, finally stuck to its previous decision giving the party ticket to Nayan.

Laxmipur-2 seat was declared vacant by the parliament secretariat after a Kuwaiti court sentenced Papul to four years in prison in a bribery case.

According to the gazette notification issued by the secretariat on February 22, the seat fell vacant on January 28, the day the Kuwaiti court convicted Papul.

It also said the by-polls would be held on April 11.

Papul, now behind bars in Kuwait, was arrested in the Gulf country in June last year on charges of human trafficking, residency visa trade and money laundering.

At the board meeting, the PM expressed concern over the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in the country and urged all to follow the health guidelines.

She also asked her party leaders to be cautious while taking part in the celebrations on March 17 on the occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said sources.

Hasina also advised them to curtail programmes as part of safety measures, they added.