HABIGANJ — Former BNP lawmaker Sheikh Sujat Mia is running as an independent in Habiganj-1 in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election after failing to withdraw his nomination by the deadline Tuesday. The episode has exposed fissures within the BNP. Sujat blamed the party’s official nominee, Dr. Reza Kibria, saying party Chairman Tarique Rahman had instructed Reza to meet him at the party office in front of leaders and workers to negotiate a settlement. But Reza and his representatives never showed up despite hours of waiting, Sujat said. Reza arrived at the party’s Golden Plaza office at 6 p.m., but party defectors present were not satisfied with what he had to say, and no agreement was reached.
Reza Kibria, a prominent economist and the BNP’s nominee, did go to the party office in the evening to meet Sujat with party leaders and workers. He called on those present to support the party’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol and left. Earlier, around 5 p.m., former upazila BNP convener Sarfaraz Chowdhury, newly elected senior vice president Bayet Ullah, general secretary Mojiburrahman Mojid and senior joint general secretary Aliur Rahman Ali attended Sujat’s meeting. They were not given a chance to speak. Instead, hostile slogans drove them out. Two-way contests now appear set in Habiganj-1.
Meanwhile, Mawlana Sirajul Islam Mirpuri of Khelafat Majlish, the 10-party alliance’s candidate for Habiganj-1, was confirmed as the official alliance candidate. In deference to the alliance’s decision, Jamaat-e-Islami’s nominee, Md. Shahjahan Ali, withdrew his candidacy. Jamaat workers had blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway for about two hours at Aushkandi to demand he remain on the ballot and detained him on the highway. They released him around 4 p.m. and took him to the Habiganj deputy commissioner’s office.
One minute before 5 p.m., Shahjahan filed his withdrawal at the Habiganj returning officer’s office, accompanied by his proposer and supporter. “I made a great sacrifice out of loyalty to the party,” Shahjahan said. “Every survey showed me ahead, but I followed the party’s instructions and withdrew my nomination.” Mawlana Sirajul Islam Mirpuri of Khelafat Majlish has been finalized as the 10-party alliance’s candidate for Habiganj-1.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report