Mudabbir went public about seeking BNP ticket

Dhaka, Nov 27 (bdnews24.com) - Mudabbir Hossain Chowdhury, who Monday claimed to have no political ties after taking oath as election commissioner, attempted to run elections from Habiganj on BNP ticket after retiring from the civil service.

"My leader is Khaleda Zia," he declared in public on June 17 this year at a view-exchange meeting in Ajmiriganj in Habiganj, his native town.

At the same programme, the former police chief had made clear his intention to join the BNP and seek party nomination for Ajmiriganj-Baniarchar constituency.

National dailies ran a report on the programme.

"I had talks with the central BNP leaders. I'm working in the constituency on their assurance (for nomination). I also worked in the past. I'll soon join BNP," Chowdhury had told the daily Prothom Alo correspondent during a public relations campaign meant for the January elections.

The Prothom Alo carried his comments on June 18 2006.

Two years earlier, when Chowdhury had just retired, he attended a relief distribution programme presided over by the Habiganj district BNP president. The then shipping minister, the late Akbar Hossain, former MP Abul Lais Mubin Chowdhury and Sujat Mia were among the BNP leaders present.

That was on July 18 2004.

Chowdhury was appointed to the top police office immediately after the BNP-led alliance swept to power in 2001. His friend and batch-mate from military academy Altaf Hossain Chowdhury was the home minister.

Both were former cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy. Mudabbir left army as a lieutenant but Altaf went on to becoming air force chief in Bangladesh.

As law and order became a cause for concern, Mudabbir was removed from police and made secretary at culture ministry.

On being sworn in to the top election office Monday afternoon, he told bdnews24.com, " I never joined BNP. My constituency people had requested me to contest election."

He also claimed that supporters of both BNP and Awami League wanted him to contest the ballot.

bdnews24.com Habiganj Correspondent Syed Mohammed Russell reported Monday night that the Ajmiriganj chapter of Awami League demonstrated in the evening against his appointment as election commissioner.

Speakers at protest rally said they were surprised at his appointment.

"In no way is [Chowdhury] non-partisan. He was a die-hard, dedicated BNP activist," said Ajmiriganj Thana Awami League President Amir Hossain.

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