Former Chittagong mayor Mohiuddin to campaign for AL-backed candidate Nasir

Former Chittagong mayor and the Awami League’s port city unit President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury says he will campaign for the party-backed candidate.

The ruling party has chosen Chittagong’s metropolitan unit General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin to run for mayor in the city corporation polls slated for Apr 28.

The decision was taken on Friday after a party meeting headed by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

“The party has decided to back Nasir. I will campaign for him,” Mohiuddin said while speaking tobdnews24.com at his home on Saturday.

The former Chittagong mayor said that he would brief the media along with Nasir within a day or two.

AJM Nasir Uddin

Mohiuddin, who had been the port city’s mayor thrice, had on several previous occasions expressed his desire to vie for the post one last time.

“One has to abide by the party’s decision, if he wants to be a part of it. I wanted to contest but withdrew my candidature,” he said.

In the last 2010 mayor polls, Mohiuddin lost to BNP-backed M Manjur Alam.

The BNP, however, is yet to announce joining the polls for  City Corporations in Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong.

“We will win. Please vote for AJM Nasir,” the veteran Awami League leader urged the electorate.

Mohiuddin supporters disappointed big time

Meanwhile, supporters of the senior leader, disappointed and agitated by the party decision, have demonstrated.

They thronged Mohiuddin’s Choshma Hill residence in the city after he returned from Dhaka.

Many raised slogans and took out processions on the street outside the house demanding his nomination in the upcoming city corporation polls.

But the former Chittagong mayor, with a smile, asked his supporters to stay calm and accept the party decision.

Mohiuddin’s top followers include most members of the metropolitan unit’s current committee, and many leaders of both Awami Juba League and Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Many top leaders of the city unit were at his house when they expressed their sheer disappointment to bdnews24.com.

They, however, did not want to say anything to the media as the decision came from the party’s highest level.

One of the secretaries of the committee, asking not to be named, said, “We can’t against the party’s decision. The party president (Hasina) understands thousand times better than us.”

The leader also said he was feeling let down.

Another leader said, “Chittagong and Mohiuddin are synonymous. Those who are against his (mayoral) candidacy, what are their contributions in the city’s politics?”

Mohiuddin told bdnews24.com: “I wanted to run, but have withdrawn. The party has backed AJM Nasir. Why would I be frustrated?”

“Many say controversial things to create conflict. There is no difference in here.”

Regarding the frustrated supporters, he said, “It’s a big party with a huge number of leaders and activists. I will make it up for them.”

Awami League veteran Mohiuddin Chowdhury was elected mayor of the Chittagong City in 1994 and two more following terms.