Intense campaign in Netrokona: Babar may contest in more seats

Netrokona, August 25 (BDNEWS) – Campaign and political propaganda for the next parliamentary election is getting hot in all the five constituencies of Netrokona. The ruling BNP had clinched four seats and Awami League (AL) got the rest one seat in the last election.

All the political parties are adopting various techniques and strategies to win over the hearts and mind of the people. AL wants to recover and BNP wants to retain all the seats.

Sources form Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the partners of the ruling coalition, said total effort would be given to in favour of the candidates nominated by the coalition.

Jatiya Party is already coveting a dream of winning at least one seat in the district.

Netrokona-1 constituency of Jatiya Sangsad comprises of Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas at the foot of Garo hills.

This area is populated mostly by Garo, Hajong, Koch, and other indigenous tribes. MA Karim Abbasi, a former college teacher, represents the people of this area. However, his well-known 'Sir' image is tarnished a bit for his younger son's unethical activities.

In Netrokona-2 constituency Awami League is facing crisis due to huge internal feud among its leaders.

BNP has lost this confirm seat because of the rivalry between their ex-member of the parliament (MP) Ashraf Uddin Khan and veteran MP and philanthropist Haji Abu Abbas.

Now, Ashraf Khan's BNP nomination is almost sure, as his daughter is married to one of the cousins of Lutfozzaman Babar, the state minister for home. He is also one of the in-laws of influential BNP lawmaker Mosaddek Ali Falu.

However, local people opined that the seat would be a permanent one for BNP if any new face were nominated.

On the other, former Netrokona Pourasabha chairman Motiur Rahman Khan and Lt. Col. Noor Khan are contending for AL nomination. But both of them had their controversial role during the War of Liberation.

Local people and general voters of Netrokona-3 constituency (Atpara-Kendua) did not take the absence of Khadija Amin and his two sons in the second death anniversary of BNP's popular lawmaker Nurul Amin Talukder easily.

It is already evident that the state minister for home may compete from this seat.

Young industrialist Iftekhar Uddin Pintu and AL central leader Asim Kumar Ukil, a resident of Kishoreganj, may seek Awami League nomination from here.

Experts opines that Awami League can easily recover the fourth parliamentary seat of Netrokona district comprising of Madan, Mohanganj and Khaliazuri upazilas selecting either central leader Shafi Ahmed or Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Shahjahan.

Computer scientist Mostafa Jabbar is also likely to ask for AL nomination from this seat.

Awami League may even create a sensation among the local people, selecting Rebecca Momin, wife of late Abdul Momin, or former high police official Hadis Uddin at the last moment.

But it is sure and sanguine that none but Lutfozzaman Babar would ask and get nomination and compete as the coalition candidate in the next parliamentary election in this seat.

Eleven unions of Purbadhola upazila of Netrokona and seven unions of Mymensingh constitute the Netrokona-5 constituency of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Here the fight for BNP's nomination would be limited exclusively among the present lawmaker Dr Mohammad Ali, his wife and BNP central leader principal Rabeya Ali and his paternal cousin Saidur Rahman.

On the other, Waresat Hossain Belal, younger brother of shaheed Colonel Abu Taher and president of Purbadhola Awami League, is gong to get AL nomination.

Freedom fighter and central Awami League leader Ahmed Hossain may emerge as another contender for the nomination.

BDNEWS/0921hrs