BNP in bad book of indigenous voters, annoyed Jamaat

L-R: Aminul Haque & Omar Faruk Chowdhury

Prof Mujibor Rahman Chowdhury, assistant secretary general of central Jamaat and president of its labour front Sramik Kallyan Federation has already launched campaign in the area.

Aminul Haque also faces trouble following the allegation by ousted BNP lawmaker Abu Hena that Aminul is among several party lawmakers who had links with Bangla Bhai, kingpin of Islamist militants. The militant leader is now on death row.

Aminul is also facing people's criticism for government's failure in containing price spiral and ensuring smooth power supply, party sources said.

The price hike of essentials has hit the indigenous people hard, who comprise a good portion of the electorate in his constituency, they said.

This time, due to the price spiral, the indigenous people and poorer section of rural folk in the two upazilas may turn their face away from Aminul Haque, who won the seat three times since 1991.

"It will not be surprising if Jamaat and a large faction in BNP support Haque's opponent in the next election. In that case, he will witness stiff competition from possible Awami League candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury", a senior party leader told this correspondent seeking anonymity.

Science and Technology Affairs Secretary of Rajshahi district Awami League engineer Shafikul Islam and former deputy inspector general of police Motiur Rahman are among AL ticket seekers, but ultimately they would not go against the party nominee, AL sources said.

Aminul Haque tried for AL nomination in 1991. AL nominated elderly party leader Muhammad Mohsin. He joined politics with BNP ticket and won the 2001 election with a big margin of 46446 votes. He got 130631 votes against newcomer Omar Faruk Chowdhury's 84,185.

A former president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Faruk is now general secretary of district AL. He has been maintaining close contact with people in different areas of the constituency since his defeat in 2001, party men said.

Senior Jamaat leaders said they will field Prof Mujibor in Rajshahi-1 even if the four-party alliance does not nominate a Jamaat man in the constituency.

They also claimed that local Jamaat leaders in Godagari and Tanore upazilas are annoyed with Aminul Haque for various reasons.

They claimed that Aminul did not keep his promise to leave the Godagari municipality chairman post for Jamaat candidate in the last municipal election.

Aminul loyalist Anwarul Islam Chowdhury defeated Jamaat candidate Abdul Malek. Aminul also campaigned for Anwarul, they claimed.

BNP-Jamaat relation turned sour when Aminul fielded his men in Mundumala and Kakonhat municipal elections, they said.

Jamaat leaders claimed they have a vote bank in the area. In 1996 election, the party was in third position with 16.16 per cent votes. Their position is better now, they claimed.

On the other hand, Aminul developed rivalry with a number of senior and dedicated BNP leaders by 'not evaluating them' in last five years, party sources said. Aminul, also minister-in-charge for Rajshahi district, has 'cold relation' with Rajshahi Mayoir Mizanur Rahman Minu MP over party affairs.

Dissident party leaders including Tanore municipal chairman Emran Ali Mollah, former poura BNP president Sajahan Ali, former upazila BNP president Aminul Islam, Abdul Mazid, Rabiul Alam, Sekandor Ali Baby and many others openly declared their opposition to Aminul.

BNP insiders said, district BNP secretary Shish Muhammad and BNP adherent Abdul Mazid Master who face charges of extortion remained with the minister as he campaigned fro them in Mundumala and Kakonhat municipal elections.

Mazid, accused in a rape case, was granted bail while the rape victim is awaiting justice for 17 years.

Besides, there are allegations that Aminul placed his relatives in important party posts in the district.

Godagari municipal BNP president Rafikul Islam, general secretary Anwarul Islam Chowdhury and vice president Manzur Chowdhury are his maternal uncles and organising secretary Enamul Haque and assistant secretary Sarwar Jahan are his relatives.

The National Aborigines' Council may also field a candidate as there are about 50,000 aborigines in the two upazilas.