Shahin's return to BNP may change political scenario in Kulaura

Shaheen's followers are upbeat, distributing sweets among party men, while there are opposition voices also, including that of BNP stalwart Saifur Rahman's son Naser Rahman, party sources said.

Talking to this correspondent during a visit to Kulaura yesterday, some followers of Shaheen claimed that the party chief at a public meeting may declare him (Shahin) alliance nominee from Moulvibazar-2 constituency (Kulaura upazila).

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is scheduled to inaugurate some projects and lay foundation of some others and address a public meeting at Kulaura Boy's High School playground today. This will be her second visit to Moulvibazar in 21 days. Earlier she visited Baralekha upazila, 30 kilometres from Kulaura, on September 16.

Her visit has steered speculations among political circles.

Shaheen, originally a BNP leader in Kulaura, contested the 1996 election with BNP ticket.

He sought alliance nomination in 2001 but the ticket went to Jamaat-e-Islami leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.

Shaheen contested the election as an independent candidate and was elected. He was then expelled from BNP for violation of party decision.

After the election, Shahin made several attempts to return to BNP, but was repeatedly refused.

After the election, BNP stalwart Saifur Rahman's son M Naser Rahman, elected from Moulvi-bazar-3 constituency (Sadar and Rajnagar), was made president of Moulvibazar district BNP. After this, rivalry grew between the two lawmakers as Naser did not want Shaheen back to the party, the party sources said.

BNP in Kulaura is now divided into two groups, one is backed by Shahin and another is by Naser, they said.

The rivalry was fuelled after former secretary to government Mufazzal Karim joined BNP in Kulaura. Mufazzal Karim extended his support to the Naser- backed fraction as he also is an aspirant for ticket from Moulvibazar-2, party sources said.

On the other hand, independent lawmaker M M Shahin has declared that he will seek BNP nomination, claiming that the 'majority' of local BNP men are with him.

Political observers said if Shahin joins BNP at today's public meeting of the prime minister, the election calculation in Kulaura may be changed.

Asked by newsmen, Naser Rahman declined to make any comment about Shahin's joining BNP.

"I will never oppose if the party chairperson wants to take him (Shahin) back to the party”, he said.

Mufazzal Karim, known to oppose Shaheen's return to the party, said he (Shahin) may be taken back in the party, but he does not know anything about this.

When contacted, Shahin MP said, "I am loyal to BNP's ideology and always want to remain in the party. Besides, my well-wishers are pressing me to return to the party".