Many leaders eager to contest polls from more than one constituency

Oikyafront, BNP-led alliance yet to decide on seat sharing

Top Oikyafront leaders ‘to contest’ poll from respective constituencies

Top leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront and BNP-led 20-Party Alliance will contest the forthcoming general election from their own constituencies. However, many of them are eager to take part in the poll slated for December 30 from more than one constituency. The two alliances are yet to finalise the seat-sharing process among their respective partners, but their top leaders are already preparing to contest the poll from their own constituencies, said opposition leaders.

Since the BNP is the major partner in the two alliances, it has to concede some of its prospective constituencies to accommodate top alliance leaders, they added. Senior BNP leaders, however, said they would share parliamentary seats among the alliance partners based on the prospects of each and every candidate irrespective of their party affiliation.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, now in jail, will take part from three constituencies—Feni-1, Bogra-6 and Bogra-7. Three senior BNP leaders collected nomination forms on behalf of Khaleda from the party central office on November 12.

If any legal complications bar the former premier from taking part in the election, the party would field BNP leaders in her stead to fight the election from those constituencies, said party insiders.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will contest the 11th parliamentary election from Thakurgaon-1. He has already collected the nomination form. Party standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will contest the polls from Cumilla-1 and Cumilla-2, while barrister Moudud Ahmed will fight the election from the Noakhali-6 constituency.

Top Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain, who is president of the Gano Forum, is unwilling to contest the election. But party leaders said they wanted him to take part in the poll either from Dhaka-7 or Dhaka-8.

Gano Forum secretary general Mostafa Mohsin Montu will contest the poll either from Dhaka-2 or Dhaka-3.

Gano Forum training affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam Pathik wants to contest the poll from the Meherpur-2 constituency. He, however, said that the seat to be given to him would be decided by the BNP.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JS) president ASM Abdur Rab will contest the poll from Luxmipur-4, while the party secretary general Abdul Malek Ratan will take part in the election from Cumilla-4.

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (BKSJL) president Bangabir Kader Siddique is still undecided over his participation in the election. If he takes part in the polls, he will contest from Tangail-8.

The BKSJL chief, however, said that it would take time for him decide on taking part in the upcoming poll.

Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna wants to contest the poll from Bogra-2, while his party adviser SM Akram would like to fight the poll from Narayanganj-5.

Jatiya Oikya Prokriya leader Sultan Mohammed Mansur will take part in the poll from the Moulavibazar-2 constituency.

LDP president Col (retd) Oli Ahmed wants to contest the polls from Chattagram-13 and Chattagram-14.  Gano Forum executive president Advocate Subrata Chowdhury also wants to take part in the poll form Chattagram-14.

Top Jamaat-e-Islmai leaders—Maulana Makbul Ahmed and Dr Shafiqur Rahman- will not take part in the election. But the Jamaat Dhaka south city unit secretary Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud wants to take part in the poll from Baufal in Patuakhali, while former Chhatra Shibir president Selimuddin wants a seat in Sylhet.

BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that they were yet to finalise the sharing of seats among the alliance partners. He, however, said that the BNP would field eligible candidates—either from the party or alliance partners—who are the most likely to win the parliamentray seats.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said they had more than one candidate in each constituency. “But we’ll field a suitable candidate from the BNP or partner parties in each constituency. The only benchmark is that he/she should have the maximum likelihood of winning the seat. We’ll consider more candidates from the partners if they have such prospective candidates,” he added.

 

Many leaders eager to contest polls from more than one constituency

Oikyafront, BNP-led alliance yet to decide on seat sharing

Top Oikyafront leaders to contest poll from respective constituencies

Top leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront and BNP-led 20-Party Alliance will contest the forthcoming general election from their own constituencies. However, many of them are eager to take part in the poll slated for December 30 from more than one constituency. The two alliances are yet to finalise the seat-sharing process among their respective partners, but their top leaders are already preparing to contest the poll from their own constituencies, said opposition leaders. Since the BNP is the major partner in the two alliances, it has to concede some of its prospective constituencies to accommodate top alliance leaders, they added. Senior BNP leaders, however, said they would share parliamentary seats among the alliance partners based on the prospects of each and every candidate irrespective of their party affiliation. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, now in jail, will take part from three constituenciesFeni-1, Bogra-6 and Bogra-7. Three senior BNP leaders collected nomination forms on behalf of Khaleda from the party central office on November 12. If any legal complications bar the former premier from taking part in the election, the party would field BNP leaders in her stead to fight the election from those constituencies, said party insiders. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will contest the 11th parliamentary election from Thakurgaon-1. He has already collected the nomination form. Party standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will contest the polls from Cumilla-1 and Cumilla-2, while barrister Moudud Ahmed will fight the election from the Noakhali-6 constituency. Top Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain, who is president of the Gano Forum, is unwilling to contest the election. But party leaders said they wanted him to take part in the poll either from Dhaka-7 or Dhaka-8. Gano Forum secretary general Mostafa Mohsin Montu will contest the poll either from Dhaka-2 or Dhaka-3. Gano Forum training affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam Pathik wants to contest the poll from the Meherpur-2 constituency. He, however, said that the seat to be given to him would be decided by the BNP. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JS) president ASM Abdur Rab will contest the poll from Luxmipur-4, while the party secretary general Abdul Malek Ratan will take part in the election from Cumilla-4. Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (BKSJL) president Bangabir Kader Siddique is still undecided over his participation in the election. If he takes part in the polls, he will contest from Tangail-8. The BKSJL chief, however, said that it would take time for him decide on taking part in the upcoming poll. Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna wants to contest the poll from Bogra-2, while his party adviser SM Akram would like to fight the poll from Narayanganj-5. Jatiya Oikya Prokriya leader Sultan Mohammed Mansur will take part in the poll from the Moulavibazar-2 constituency. LDP president Col (retd) Oli Ahmed wants to contest the polls from Chattagram-13 and Chattagram-14. Gano Forum executive president Advocate Subrata Chowdhury also wants to take part in the poll form Chattagram-14. Top Jamaat-e-Islmai leadersMaulana Makbul Ahmed and Dr Shafiqur Rahman- will not take part in the election. But the Jamaat Dhaka south city unit secretary Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud wants to take part in the poll from Baufal in Patuakhali, while former Chhatra Shibir president Selimuddin wants a seat in Sylhet. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that they were yet to finalise the sharing of seats among the alliance partners. He, however, said that the BNP would field eligible candidateseither from the party or alliance partnerswho are the most likely to win the parliamentray seats. BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said they had more than one candidate in each constituency. But well field a suitable candidate from the BNP or partner parties in each constituency. The only benchmark is that he/she should have the maximum likelihood of winning the seat. Well consider more candidates from the partners if they have such prospective candidates, he added.