BNP-Jamaat at odds over nomination in Sylhet-5

(L-R) Haris Chowdhury, Farid Uddin & Fafiz Ahmed Majumder

The difference is widening as alliance contenders have started pre-election campaign in the parliamentary seat comprising bordering Zakiganj and Kanaighat upazilas.

On the other hand, Awami League is dogged by internal feud in the two upazilas.

Moulana Farid Uddin Chowdhury of Jamaat bagged the seat in 2001 election by defeating AL's Hafiz Ahmed Majumder.

Farid Uddin along with his party men are in the field while prime minister's political secretary Abul Haris Chowdhury is lobbying for the alliance ticket, party sources said.

Haris Chowdhury often attends programme in the area in the name of development work, using his official status of a state minister. Haris Chowdhury also told local BNP leaders that he is hopeful of getting nomination.

Talking to this correspondent, some BNP leaders alleged that the Jamaat MP and his men have taken 'control' of all development activities in the region, ignoring BNP.

"We have a good public base in Zakiganj and Kanaighat upazilas. Most of the Union Parishad chairmen are BNP men. In the recently held municipal election in Zakiganj pourashava, the posts of chairman and most of the ward commissioners were captured by our party men", a local BNP leaders said.

But Jamaat-e-Islami is adamant to get its man as an alliance candidate in the constituency, party sources said.

"Jamaat enjoys blessings of BNP stalwart Saifur Rahman in the area as he always favours Farid Uddin Chowdhury", a Jamaat leader told this correspondent seeking anonymity.

The possibility of Ershad's joining the alliance has created a challenge for both BNP and Jamaat. JP leader Shabbir Ahmed will also vie for nomination.

On the other hand, Moulana Abdul Latif Chowdhury Fultali, chief of a religious forum in greater Sylhet-Al-Islahmay be a factor in the coming election as he has a large number of followers in the area. He supported the alliance in last election but the scenario may be different this time as his difference with Jamaat over religious issues has widened, political circles said.

Moulana Obaidul Haque of Islami Oikkya Jote (IOJ) was elected from the constituency in 1991. In 1996, Moulana Habibur Rahman of Al-Islah got 15,000 votes.

In 1996, AL's Hafiz Ahmed Majumder defeated Jamaat's Moulana Farid Chowdhury.

Majumder, former chairman of Pubali Bank, is known in the area as a clean man and he has a big contribution in spreading education in this backward area of Sylhet.

But he will face a difficult situation his time due to internal feud in AL in both the upazilas.

A few months ago, a delegation from Zakiganj upazila AL met central leaders in Dhaka and then held a press conference in Sylhet, bringing serious allegations against some party leaders. They also threatened of quitting the party.

However, political circles believe Majumder would be the AL nominee to fight the next polls from the area.