More than a dozen candidates of the ruling Awami League including central leaders and ministers of the government are likely to face challenges during the January 5 polls.
They are now sweating to conduct door-to-door campaigns seeking votes to save their prestige in the dull and cold shoulder elections.
According to local Awami League leaders and our correspondents, Presidium member and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, another Presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, former state minister Munnuzan Sufian and lawmaker Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin are in tensed situation about their win.
Matia, known as a clean and honest person, is a lawmaker candidate from Sherpur 2 constituency where the rebel candidate is Badiuzzamam Badsha, chairman of Nalitabaria upazila and also vice-president of Krishak League, the Awami League’s farmers’ front. Badsha who is contesting the polls as an independent candidate has got pineapple as his election symbol.
Voters of the constituencies told the Dhaka Tribune that there would be a remarkable fight between the two Awami League leaders.
Badsha is hopeful about his win. “I am hundred percent hopeful that I will defeat her [Matia],” he told the Dhaka Tribune claiming that the locals had been disappointed with the agriculture minister’s behaviour.
He said although the supporters of Matia were threatening his workers and voters, and they had been ready to teach her a good lesson.
There is an allegation that two central leaders of the party had inspired Badsha to remain in the voting race against Matia.
Presidium member Kazi Zafullah is facing independent candidate Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury alias Nixon Chowdhury, who is a relative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Zafrullah is annoyed with the party’s central committee for not taking any action against the rebel candidate, said a person close to the aspirant.
He was also hopeful to win over Nixon as the party leaders and activists were with him.
Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin is the Awami League-nominated candidate from Dhaka 7 constituency. Former MP and Joint Secretary of the party’s Dhaka City unit, Mohammad Selim is the rebel candidate here. Tuku will be facing former state minister Prof Abu Sayeed, known as reformist in the party, in Pabna 1
Several other leaders including former post and telecommunication minister Shahara Khatun, former minister Ramesh Chandra Sen and state minister Dipankar Talukdar will face competition in the polls.
