Dozens of ruling party men have started lobbying to get picked for Cox’s Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua upazilas) constituency in the upcoming national polls slated for January 7.
The seat that the Awami League did not contest in the 2014 election to pave the way for the Jatiya Party (JaPa-Ershad) is now being targeted by other members of the alliance.
AH Salahuddin Mahmud, a presidium member of the Jatiya Party (JP-Manju), wants to participate in the polls from this seat. The two-time former lawmaker has also served as the chairman of Cox’s Bazar Zilla Parishad.
Local Awami League leaders refuse to accept him, saying the JP has no political base in Chakaria and Pekua. Even though Salahuddin was elected from the seat in 1986 and 1988, he has not been seen in the political field since 1990.
In 2018, Awami League leader Jafar Alam was elected from the constituency. But since then, there have been many allegations against him of creating division in the party, repressing party leaders, land grabbing, and illegally occupying land and shrimp farms.
A large section of the local unit of the ruling party is working so that he does not get a nomination this time, sources said.
The seat is vital to Awami League dominance as it was a stronghold for BNP-Jamaat for a long time. Till today, former state minister and BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed’s influence can be seen in the area. Salahuddin and his wife were elected from the constituency for three consecutive terms, beginning in 1996.
Local Awami League leaders therefore think that this time the party should nominate someone who can prove the party’s acceptance among the local people.
District Awami League General Secretary Salah Uddin Ahmed CIP contested the constituency in 1996 and 2008 but lost. He is seeking nomination for the seat this time as well.
Former district judge Aminul Huq is another aspirant who has been visibly active in the area for the past few days.
Others seeking nomination from the ruling party include former upazila chairman Rezaul Karim, Chakaria Upazila Chairman Fazlul Karim Saidi, and district Awami League leaders ATM Ziauddin Chowdhury, Rashedul Islam and Mohammad Ashraful Islam Sajeeb.
District Awami League President Faridul Islam Chowdhury said there are multiple party aspirants for the seat this time. “But whoever is picked by the party high-ups will get the full support of other leaders and their supporters in the upcoming polls,” he added.
