Rumblings of discontent in Sylhet JP for tickets

Some of them may run as independent candidates if they are denied tickets after joining the Awami League-led 'grand alliance, they hinted.

They planned a press conference on Saturday at Sylhet Press Club to express their grievances and stance but postponed it to 'wait a day or two to get the last message' from Dhaka, party sources said. "We will let ypu know tomorrow", a front ranking JP leader said yesterday afternoon seeking anonymity.

"There is a good number of party candidates in Sylhet. The commotion will take a serious turn if they are not given nomination", he said.

"They may run in the polls race as independent candidates ignoring possibility of disciplinary actions by the party", he said.

Some good candidates like Lt. Col (retd) Syed Ali Ahmed, who did well in byelection in 2005 in Sunamganj-3 may even resign, party sources claimed.

Grievances of JP leaders were apparent during Thursday's countrywide hartal. Leaders and activists left the field in Sylhet city after news spread that many JP aspirants were dropping from the nomination lists, party insiders said.

They did not join the post-hartal rally and held an emergency meeting Thursday night to discuss the nomination scenario in Sylhet region, they said.

Sylhet district JP cheif Kunu Miah, Lt. Col. (retd) Syed Ali Ahmed, France JP unit cheif Shabbir Ahmed, former Sylhet district JP general secretary Syed Abul Quashem Montu and others joined the meeting.

"We may quit the alliance if our men are not given the due importance in giving nomination", another front ranking leader said.

After the meeting, the leaders gave an ultimatum to the party chief to ensure seats for JP candidates in Sylhet.

"We will take a decision if a clear message is not available today", he said.

JP leaders said the party has 'good candidates' in at least eight constituencies in Sylhet region.

"We bagged eight seats out of 19 in Sylhet division in 1991 polls, just after fall of Ershad. Our position is better now", another leader said.

He claimed that JP has vote banks in these constituencies. He also mentioned names of some candidates in those areas.

JP central organsing secretary Abdullah Siddiqui in Sylhet-2; JP Presidium member Atiqur Rahman in Sylhet-3; JP's France unit chief Shabbir Ahmed and MA Matin Chowdhury in Sylhet-5; former lawmaker Sharaf Uddin Khsoshru; central joint secretary general Selim Uddin and Kunu Miah in Sylhet-6; Lt. Col. Syed Ali Ahmed in Sunamganj-3; Begum Mumtaj Iqbal Chowdhury in Sunamganj-4, former lawmaker Nobab Ali Abbas Khan in Moulvibazar-2 and former lawmakers Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury in Habiganj-1 will surely win the polls, he claimed.

Besides, party chief HM Ershad expressed his desire to fight in Sylhet-6 and Habiganj-1 constituencies, the party leaders said.

Sylhet district JP president Kunu Miah told The Daily Star yesterday, "We demand the seats as we are confident about victory and our leaders are already working in the areas.

"It will be hard to manage party leaders and activists if the grand alliance fails to realise the situation.

"Though we pressed for eight seats, there should be six for us in Sylhet division", he said.