BNP faction voices support for Sakku

But insiders say it's a strategic move to give the 'winning candidate' an independent path

Comilla, Dec 12 (bdnews24.com) – A faction of Comilla district unit BNP has held a meeting to voice their support for mayoral aspirant Monirul Haque Sakku in the upcoming elections to the newly-formed Comilla City Corporation.

The election is scheduled for Jan 5 next year.

Central BNP on Monday expelled Sakku, Comilla district unit BNP joint general secretary, for going against party's decision to boycott the polls.

Sakku, the former mayor of Comilla municipality, announced his candidature even though the main opposition had made its polls boycott decision public in protest against the insistence of the Election Commission on use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all the polling centres in the Comilla elections and non-deployment of army.

Following Sakku's expulsion, a local BNP leader held a meeting with former BNP lawmaker from Comilla-11 constituency Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan at his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka on Monday afternoon.

The meeting was attended by BNP's rural development affairs secretary and former BNP lawmaker from Comilla-9 constituency Monirul Haque Chowdhury, singer Asif Akbar, Laksam upazila council chairman Majir Ahmed, district BNP vice-president Kazi Nasimul Haque, and local BNP leaders Nazmul Sadat and Kaium Haque Rinku.

Sakku's wife Afroja Jasmine Tikli was also present at the meeting, said those attending the meeting.

After the meeting, Asif Akbar told reporters, "We've supported Monirul Haque Sakku in principle. We'll make all efforts needed to see him win in the polls."

District BNP general secretary Aminur Rashid, however, did not file his nomination after BNP opposed the use of EVMs in the polls.

Sakku, a close relative of former minister and late BNP leader Col Akbar (retd), had earlier requested the BNP high command to relieve him of the party responsibilities.

A BNP statement signed by its joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed on Monday said that Sakku, an executive BNP member has been removed from all party posts and his primary membership scrapped for contesting the polls in defiance of the party's decision.

A Comilla BNP leader seeking anonymity told bdnews24.com, "Sakku's position in Comilla is better. He is considered a winning candidate. So, he has been given a separate path strategically to fight in the elections."

According to the local BNP leaders, ruling Awami League leader Afjal Khan is the main rival of Sakku in the mayoral election. Jatiya Party vice-chairman Yaar Ahmed Selim is also in the fray.

Comilla City Corporation was formed by merging Comilla municipality and Comilla Sadar municipality (south) on July 10 this year, thereby meeting a longstanding demand of the locals. It has 27 wards.

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