Fahmi Golondaz Babel, a chairman aspirant from Gafargaon upazila in Mymensingh, was expelled from Awami League (AL) for refusing to quit the race following ‘directive of party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.’
Like Babel, many grassroots-level leaders were axed from AL as part of the party high command’s actions against the dissident leaders contesting the upazila polls, ignoring party decisions.
Mymensingh district AL unit president Principal Matiur Rahman and Captain (retd) Giasuddin Ahmed on January 17 in a letter to Babel asked him to lend support to Alal Ahmed as the AL-backed candidate for the upazila polls.
The letter, a copy of which The Daily Star obtained, reads ‘if he fails to comply with the decision he would be expelled from the party as per the directive of AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.’Babel sent a copy of the letter to the Election Commission to say whether using the prime minister’s name to settle disputes related to local body elections violates the electoral code of conduct, EC Secretariat sources said.
As per the party chief’s directives, local units initiated steps to pick a single party-backed candidate for each post to ensure triumph in the upazila polls, where political parties are not allowed to contest formally.
As of yesterday, grassroots-level leaders failed to agree over finalising candidacy in many upazilas, exposing the party’s fragile chain of command only two days ahead of the upazila election slated for January 22.
However, the expelled leaders said they would contest the polls.
In a few upazilas including six in Khulna and two in Faridpur, disputes over candidacies were settled.
“Upon receiving directives from the party high-ups, we settled the disputes and picked a single candidate against each post in six upazilas,” Sheikh Harunur Rashid, president of Khulna district AL, told The Daily Star yesterday over telephone.
In Moulvibazar, disputes over candidacy still remain as some party leaders refused to quit the electoral race, party sources said.
At least three grassroots AL leaders were expelled from the party in Mymensingh for refusing to comply with party decisions.
Besides, 14 AL activists in Mymensingh were also expelled for supporting rebel candidates.
Abdul Matin Sarkar, general secretary of Mymensingh district AL unit, told The Daily Star yesterday that Babel was expelled from the party but he continued his election campaign.
Leaders of district, upazila and union AL units tried to pick a single contender for chairman from each upazila. But their attempts failed in many upazilas.
Although the expulsion of grassroots-level leaders from the party continued for the last few days, the actual figure of expelled AL leaders could not be known immediately.
Five AL leaders were expelled from the party in Chandpur for contesting the polls ignoring party high command’s decision.
In Comilla, Sadar Dakkhin AL unit health secretary Khorshed Alam was expelled from the party on Sunday for contesting the polls for chairmanship.
Satkhira District AL yesterday expelled one rebel upazila chairman and three vice-chairmen aspirants.
In Rangpur, two local AL leaders were expelled from AL on Sunday for contesting for chairman from Mithapukur and Rangpur sadar upazila.
The upazila polls campaigns will end today midnight.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
