A number of grassroots leaders of the Ershad-led Jatiya Party have alleged that its top brass has awarded nominations to unknown faces in exchange of money.
There were many faces who had never attended any party meeting, some of these leaders told the Dhaka Tribune.
They said the parliamentary committee of JP accepted monetary payments for awarding nomination to some of these unknown faces, bypassing the dedicated workers.
They accused party chief HM Ershad, Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and the members of the parliamentary committee of the ill practice.
“There are many people who never expected nomination from the party, but were given tickets to contest polls for JP. The grassroots do not know them because they have never attended any party meeting or programme. Surely, they are some financial matters,” said Didarul Alam Didar, organising secretary of JP.
The party on Friday finalised its candidates to 299 constituencies for the 10th national elections.
“We have never heard the names that the party has nominated, especially those who were given tickets to run in the elections from Jessore 1, 2, and 3 constituencies,” said Altaf Hossain Razib, secretary general of Jessore district unit JP.
Many other leaders, who did not get JP ticket, questioned the party’s decision to give nomination to unknown faces. Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, however, denied the allegations saying those who failed to get ticket had been saying such things.
Kazi Firoz Rashid, member of the parliamentary committee, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Such a situation arising out of dissatisfaction is not unusual for a political party.”
The Dhaka Tribune tried to contact party chief HM Ershad over phone; but he rejected the calls.
