AL, BNP face rebel candidates

Both Awami League and BNP face rebel candidates in five of the seven municipalities the district for the election to be held on December 30.

As many as 33 mayoral candidates and 243 councillor candidates in seven municipalities are conducting door to door contacts to woo voters as the election campaign gains momentum a few days ahead of the polls.

Rebels, especially those belonging to AL have alleged that their intra-party rivals are creating impediment to the election campaign in different areas.

AL rebel Tofazzal Hossain, also the sitting mayor of Sujanagar municipality, said,

"Wahab's men attacked my election campaign in Khanpara of Sujanagar municipality area on December 14. They also attacked my campaign team on December 15 in Manikdir village and damaged posters and banners in several areas."

"They disturbed my election campaign to remove me from the race. I was elected as rebel candidate in last municipality election and I have the support from people this election too," said Tofazzal Hossain, also secretary of upazila unit of Jubo League.

Refuting the allegation, AL aspirant Abdul Wahab, secretary of upazila AL, said, "A group of criminals attacked my men during the election campaign. Some people backed by a few party leaders supported the rebel candidate, defying party decision."

In Chatmohar, AL rebel Mirza Rezaul Karim Dulal, also the sitting mayor, alleged that the men of AL aspirant Shakhawat Hossain are threatening general voters not to cast vote for him.

Mirza Rezaul is also joint secretary of the upazila unit of AL.

On the other hand, AL aspirant Shakhawat Hossain, also president of the upazila unit of AL, claimed that the party men are united behind him and the rebel candidate, realising the real picture of election race, is spreading rumour against him.

Similar allegation was found in Bhangura, Faridpur and Santhia municipalities.

Of the seven municipalities both AL and BNP face 'rebel problem' in five municipalities.

BNP also faces rebel candidates in the five municipalities.

Local sources, however, said the rebel candidates are not that strong.

In Ishwardi upazila, there is no rebel candidate of the party but intra-party conflict has appeared as a trouble for the party nominated candidate.

BNP has nominated Mokhlesur Rahman Bablu as the party candidate in Ishwardi municipality but his rival Jakaria Pintu is working against party decision.

District unit of BNP has issued a show cause notice against Ishwardi municipality BNP secretary Jakaria Pintu and his fellows vice president Jahidur Rahman Bishws, organising secretary Islam Hossain Sumon and JCD president Imrul Kayes Sumon.

"They have been served notice for not working in favour of the party nominee. If they do not rectify themselves, they will be punished," said Johurul Islam, office secretary of district unit BNP.