Dump Jamaat, field BNP man in Dinajpur-6

Azizur Rahman Chowdhury & Mokbular Rahman Gorki

The demand was voiced at several party meetings held in different areas of the constituency in recent days. BNP leaders and workers also criticised Jamaat lawmaker Azizur Rahman Chowdhury for his alleged failure in implementing alliance's polls pledges and sidelining BNP leaders.

Dinajpur-6 constituency comprises Birampur, Nawabganj, Hakimpur and Goraghat upazilas.

In 2001 election, Jammaat leader Azizur Rahman Chowdhury was elected with alliance ticket. He got 1,10,598 votes against Awami League candidate Md Mostafizur Rahman Fizu's 88,943 votes.

Front ranking leaders of the district committee were present at a meeting held at Hakimpur on Wednesday. It was addressed by, among others, district BNP president Md Yousuf Ali, vice- presidents Md Abdul Aziz Sardar and Lutfar Rahman Mintu, assistant general secretary Md Mokbular Rahman Gorki and Mozammel Hossain Badal.

Speakers criticised the role of incumbent MP Azizur Rahman Chowdhury. They alleged that he failed to meet the alliance's polls pledges and created a rift in the alliance by ignoring BNP men in different activities.

They demanded a BNP man as alliance candidate from Dinajpur--6 and said many party men will not be involved in campaign if a Jamaat man is nominated again.

They also alleged that Azizur Rahman am even did not keep contact with BNP leaders and local people.

BNP will not shoulder Jamaat leader's failure, they said.

When contacted later, Azizur Rahman said he did not know about Wednesday's meeting. He claimed that BNP chief Khaleda Zia assured him of nomination from the constituency in the coming election.

He refuted the allegation that alliance's polls pledges could not be implemented due to his failure. He claimed that he implemented many development projects.

"We (Jamaat) are trying to work with BNP to retain the seat", he said.

Dinajpur district BNP president Yousuf Ali however said he does not know anything about Khaleda Zia's assurance to Azizur Rahman.