Sixteen leaders of the ruling Awami League’s Barguna unit aspire to become the MP of Barguna 2 constituency for only 21 remaining days of the current ninth parliament.
The party’s Parliamentary Board on Tuesday interviewed these 16 grassroots leaders at a meeting convened at Ganabhaban to select the party’s candidate for the by-election to the constituency.
The meeting, however, did not make any decision; another meeting to be held today will officially announce the party nomination.
Sources from the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune that the aspirant leaders told the meeting about their sacrifices for the party and tried to persuade party chief Sheikh Hasina.
Awami League Parliamentary Board member and party’s Presidium member Kazi Zafarullah said they were surprised to see so many party men interested to become an MP for just 21 days.
Barguna 2 constituency fell vacant following the death of lawmaker Golam Shabur Tulu in a road accident on July 26. The by-election will be held on October 3.
On June 6, the PM announced that the tenure of the ninth parliament would end on October 25, which means the newly elected MP of Barguna 2 will be in office for only 21 days.
One of the nomination seekers told the Dhaka Tribune that they were trying to get the nomination because that would help get party ticket in the upcoming parliamentary polls.
The 16 aspirants are deceased Golam Shabur Tulu’s elder brother and Pathorghata upazila Awami League President Golam Kabir, party’s Barguna district Vice-President Dr Abul Hossain Sikder, Bamna upazila Prsident advocate Harun Or Rashid and General Secretary Saiful Islam, Betagi upazila Vice-President ABM Golam Kabir, General Secretary Abdur Razzak Khan, Organising Secretary Fahria Sangram Aminul, Pathorghata upazila Chairman Shawkot Hasanur Rahman Rimon, Dhaka (north) Mohila Awami League acting president Nasima Ferdousi, Jubo League leader Jewel Mahamud, Barguna Awami League leaders SM Touhidul Islam, Fida Abdullah Khan, Mahabubur Rahman, MA Hamid, Abul Kasem and Maksudur Rahman Forkan.