JP's dilemma: To support AL or not

First it was internal conflict that kept Jatiya Party from fielding a candidate. Then came the dilemma about whether they should support the ruling Awami League, an ally, or simply play the role of the opposition party.

The situation is playing out in Sylhet ahead of the July 30 city corporation poll. However, as the election day draws nearer, party insiders say, JP is likely to throw its weight behind AL mayoral candidate Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran.

“We are not giving support to anyone yet, but in a couple of days, we will start our work in favour of the AL candidate honouring the decision of the alliance,” said Md Yahya Chowdhury, joint secretary general of Jatiya Party.

He also said they tried to nominate Abdul Hye Kaiyum, member secretary of JP's Sylhet city unit, but it did not work out for “many reasons”.

Party sources said the leaders could neither decide on a candidate of their own nor they could support any other candidate. The leaders are confused about whether they are part of the AL-led 14-party alliance or the opposition party in parliament, the insiders said.

In the 2013 mayoral election, JP rallied behind the same AL candidate. However, five years earlier, in 2008, five of its leaders contested in the city polls.

Meanwhile, the local AL is apparently not bothered about JP.

“The absence of JP won't matter because the party does not belong to politics anymore. But we will ask their leaders to work with us as they are our ally,” said AL's Sylhet city unit general secretary Asad Uddin Ahmed.

4 COMPLAINTS FROM BNP

In the last two days, BNP has filed four written complaints to the Election Commission (EC) regarding violation of the electoral code by AL and intimidation to party leaders and activists.

Ali Ahmed, general secretary of Sylhet district unit of BNP, and a member of the party's election management committee, submitted two complaints to the EC's regional office in Sylhet yesterday.

According to the complaints, law enforcers are intimidating BNP men by visiting their house without any warrant, while a large lighted replica, made of fabric and bamboo, of AL's electoral symbol “boat” was placed in Shahi Eidgah area. It was a violation as any sort of lighting is prohibited during campaigning, said the complaint.

The day before, one complaint mentioned of similar intimidation, while the other said a government office was used for campaigning for the ruling party. On Tuesday, the MAG Osmani Medical College chapter of Bangladesh Nurses Association organised a rally on the college premises, voicing their support for Kamran.

Assistant Returning Officer Proloy Kumar Saha said the EC would look into the complaints.

'BNP OUT TO MAKE POLL QUESTIONABLE'

Responding to the complaints, AL's Kamran said BNP was trying to make the election appear questionable. “It is the nature of BNP to raise different issues and make good things appear questionable,” he told The Daily Star.

'BNP UNSTOPPABLE'

Regarding the chances of their candidate, BNP vice-chairman Mohammad Shahjahan yesterday said no “conspiracy” could stop party candidate Ariful Haque Chowdhury from winning.

“If the election is fair, he will be elected mayor,” he said when he, along with the central leaders of BNP, launched the campaign for their candidate yesterday.

On a campaign trail, Ariful Haque said, “The voters need not worry because together we can protect our right to vote and achieve the goal of fair elections.”