GOPALGANJ — Habibur Rahman Habib, an expelled BNP leader running as an independent candidate from Gopalganj-3 constituency (Tungipara-Kotalipara), could not enter Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s mausoleum to pay respects after being denied permission by the administration. He instead recited prayers at the gate with party workers and supporters, formally launching his election campaign.
The incident took place at gate 3 of Sheikh Mujib’s mausoleum on Thursday at 12 p.m. From there, Habib began campaigning under his football symbol. He later canvassed at Tungipara upazila parishad and the Patgati bus stand, seeking votes and support from the public.
Earlier, Habib visited the grave of Allama Shamsul Haque Faridpuri, founder of the Gawhardanga Khademul Islam Madrasa.
Habib told reporters, “Gopalganj-3 is an important constituency of Bangladesh. The architect of independent Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the luminary of the Islamic scholarly community, Allama Shamsul Haque Faridpuri, are both buried on this soil. I began my election campaign with deep respect for these two great figures. As I was not granted permission by the administration, I could not enter Bangabandhu’s mausoleum to pay respects at his grave. So I prayed at the grave from outside the gate.”
Habib said, “I was once involved with Chhatra Dal politics. I served as president of Tungipara Chhatra Dal and was also a member of the district BNP. But I left BNP politics long ago. I sent my resignation letter to the BNP secretary general through postal service.”
On his expulsion from the party, Habib said, “My expulsion now is laughable because I am not in the party. Since August 5, people in Tungipara and Kotalipara have been living in fear of cases and arrests. Many have been forced to leave the area because of harassment. Many who do politics don’t think of ordinary people — they participate in elections only for their own interests. I want to do politics for the people of this area and work for their welfare.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report