BNP man seeks ticket saying party MP 'unpopular'

Abdul Wahab, former convener of Kalmakanda upazila BNP, at the press conference at Netakona Press Club Friday evening alleged lawmaker from Netrakona-1 MA Karim Abbasi has lost popularity due to his 'inefficiency and autocratic behaviour'. He did not do any development work in the area during his tenure, which has isolated him from the people, he said.

A large number of BNP activists and supporters of Wahab were present at the press conference, held Friday evening.

A former president of Netrakona University College unit of Chhatra Shibir in 1977-78, Wahab joined BNP in 1995 in presence of party chief Khaleda Zia.

Wahab bitterly criticised Karim Abbasi for what he called not fulfilling aspirations of local people and defaming BNP in the area and urged party chairperson Khaleda Zia to nominate him in the next election to restore the party image. BNP will definitely lose the seat if Abbasi is nominated by the four-party alliance, he claimed.

Wahab declared that he is the 'fittest person' to get nomination to contest from Netrakona-1 constituency. He also claimed that party workers in the two upazilas will support his candidature.

Karim Abbasi was elected twice from Netrakona-1 with BNP tickets -- in 1991 and 2001 by defeating Awami League candidate Jalaluddin Talukder. He was whip of BNP in parliament during 1991-1996.

When contacted, MA Karim Abbasi MP said, "Abdul Wahab is a cheat and corrupt person. He is not a well wisher of BNP.

"I have done many development works in Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas and I am still popular in my constituency" MA Karim claimed.