Even Gopalganj (Faridpur) now hates Mujib & family
Tarek Ali
Four-party plans to capture 'Awami fort' in Gopalganj
Daily Star
The BNP-led four-party alliance is trying to penetrate Awami League's
strongholds all the three parliamentary constituencies of Gopalganj district
mainly targeting the constituencies of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Fazlul Karim
Selim.
In the last 30 years, AL candidates won the three seats in Gopalganj, home
district of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, where Awami League boasts of
being the only party.
But according to many elderly men and women who were once very close to
Bangabandhu, the party's popularity here is waning due to insecurity caused
by
violence for which Awami League is largely responsible.
Four-party alliance wants to seize this opportunity to 'penetrate the Awami
fort'. Alliance leaders are cautiously advancing, reading the voters' mind
to
see if Awami League will continue to enjoy 'monopoly' in Gopalganj politics
or
if other parties will have a share in it.
Former home minister Mahabbat Jan Chowdhury of Jatiya Party (M-M) and
Moulana
Emdadul Huq of Jamaat are seeking four-party nomination from Gopalganj-1
(Kashiany-Muksudpur). Mahabbat Jan has a better chance for nomination
against
either Mukul Bose or Faruk Khan of Awami League. Advocate Kazi Abdur Rashid
of
AL is also seeking nomination. It is learnt from party sources that Faruk
Khan
is Hasina's 'preferred' candidate. Other political sources however think
that
Faruk Khan is no match for Mahabbat Jan in the coming elections.
Four-party wants to 'teach a good lesson' to former health minister Sheikh
Fazlul Karim Selim in Gopalganj-2 (Sadar-a part of Kashiany) constituency by
fielding BNP's M H Khan Manju against him. Both Manju and Selim have started
campaigning in full-swing with Manju banking on AL's 'terrorist activities'
during its rule and Selim capitalising on the alliance's alleged link with
'Kotalipara bomb planting incident'. Selim also wants to draw voters'
sympathy
because of his being Bangabandhu's close relative.
AL's advocate Mohon Khan is also seeking nomination from Gopalganj-2. He is
the son of Kamrul Islam Rais, a close friend of Sheikh Mujib. "I deserve
nomination because I'm much more popular than Selim," Khan said.
The alliance candidate will take full advantage of Sheikh Selim-Mohon Khan
rivalry in Gopalganj-2.
It will be an 'acid test' for Hafez Omar Ahmed of Khelafat Andolan to
contest
against AL chief Sheikh Hasina from Gopalganj-3 (Tungipara-Kotalipara)
constituency. Advocate Shishir Chowdhury of JP (Ershad) might also be in the
race, if nominated.
Polite and revered by many, Hafez Omar Ahmed is the son of Moulana Shamsul
Huq
alias Sadar Shah, an eminent Islamic thinker of the subcontinent. Omar is
quite popular despite AL's virulent attack, branding him as a fundamentalist
and anti-liberation person. "I have hundreds of supporters also in the
minority community," Omar said.
Many leaders of Gopalganj AL said that although BNP's Kalachand or JP's
advocate Shishir doesn't worry Hasina at all, Hafez Omar would be a
'formidable rival' to her. Four-party alliance is trying to pick up Omar to
set him against Hasina.