With the country’s political arena gaining momentum for the January 7 general election, independent candidates are also set to join the polls fray in at least 12 out 21 constituencies of Barisal Division.
Among them is much-talked-about Barisal city unit Awami League general secretary and former mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah. He is in the polls for the Barisal-5 (Sadar) seat.
Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, former district coordinator of the Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (FEMA), said: “Perhaps the ruling party is trying to prove the election as participatory, free and fair by instigating rebel and independent candidacies, with the major opposition parties yet to decide on the election.”
Sadiq Abdullah sought the party’s nomination but was denied the party ticket. His nomination form was collected from Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Islam yesterday morning.
However, his father and Barisal district unit Awami League President Abul Hasanat Abdullah has secured the nomination for the Barisal-1 constituency.
With a number of allegations raised against him, Sadiq Abdullah was also denied the party ticket in the Barisal city polls earlier this year.
The incumbent MP from Barisal-5 and State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque retained the party ticket for the next general polls.
The candidates
Faiyazur Rahman Raju, a member of the international affairs sub-committee of Awami League central committee, will be contesting from the Barisal-2 constituency as an independent candidate.
Sujan Halder, too, is in the polls race from the constituency as an independent aspirant.
Businessman Atiqur Rahman is contesting from the Barisal-3 constituency.
Pankaj Nath, the current MP from the Barishal-4 constituency who has been denied his nomination, is preparing to challenge the Awami League-endorsed candidate, Shammee Ahmed.
The Barisal-5 constituency has another independent candidate Salahuddin Ripon, a member of the ruling party’s central sub-committee.
Moniruzzaman Monir, another member of the sub-committee, is also joining the election as an independent candidate from the Jhalakathi-1 constituency.
Former MP and district unit Awami League president AKM Awal told reporters recently that he would be an independent candidate from the Pirojpur-1 constituency.
Former Zilla Parishad chairman and district unit Awami League Joint General Secretary Mohiuddin Maharaj will contest from the Pirojpur-2 seat.
Mahabubur Rahman Hiron, vice-president of the Dhaka north city unit Awami League, said that he wants to be an independent candidate from the Bhola-1 constituency.
Barguna district unit Awami League leader Moshiur Rahman Shihab will be an independent candidate in Barguna-1 constituency.
District unit Awami League Joint General Secretary Golam Sarwar Tuku and incumbent MP Showkat Hasanur Rahman Rimon want to be in the polls fray as independent candidates from the Barguna-2 constituency.
Former Sadar upazila chairman Sultan Ahmed Mridha and former state minister Mahabubur Rahman Talukder will contest from the Patuakhali-1and Patuakhali-4 constituencies.