Rajapur Upazila Awami League has decided not to work in the election for Muhammad Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam, the candidate of Jhalkathi-1 seat (Rajapur-Kantalia) nominated by Awami League.
This matter was decided in the general meeting of the party on December 18 night. Rajapur Upazila Awami League president, general secretary and other members have signed the decision.
According to the minutes of the general meeting, Shahjahan Omar has so far not expressed any interest in getting to know the party leaders and workers of the Awami League and the leaders and workers of the affiliated organizations. He is using the building he used to sit in as the BNP leader as an election office. He did mass communication about anti-independence and their children. He tortured Awami League leaders and workers in various ways while he was a Member of Parliament and State Minister as the leader of BNP. Therefore, it was decided in the party meeting that the son of the freedom fighter is an independent candidate. Everyone in the party will work for Moniruzzaman.
AHM Khairul Alam Sarfraz, President of Rajapur Upazila Awami League, said that Shahjahan Omar came to the constituency as a candidate for boat and did not call any leader including the party's president-secretary. Instead of coming to the party office, he is working with the BNP supporters and anti-independence, staying at his election office. So it was decided not to act on his behalf in the general meeting. He claimed that they have informed the central leaders about this.
In this regard, Kathalia Upazila Awami League President Bimal Samaddar said, 'Until now we have not been able to come down with the boat candidate. He came to Kathalia earlier and held a meeting, but no one from the Upazila Awami League went there. I told him organizationally, we want to work with him. But if he does not call us, how can we go!'
Independent candidate Central Awami League is a member of the sub-committee on freedom fighters. Moniruzzaman said, "All the Awami League presidents and general secretaries of two upazilas of my constituency are with me. They have agreed to opt for my eagle symbol.'
Awami League candidate Shahjahan Omar was called several times on the mobile phone, but he did not answer. Its election coordinator Mizanur Rahman said such a decision is against the constitution of the party. It is completely illegal for Awami League to take a decision in the party general meeting to act on behalf of an independent candidate.
However, it is known that thousands of leaders and activists have joined the Bir Uttam boat campaign under the leadership of Golam Kibria Sikder, former chairman of Kathalia Upazila Parishad and former convener of Upazila Awami League.
Golam Kibria Sikder, former chairman of Kathalia Upazila Parishad said, "Currently, the people of the country are in peace along with development. Therefore, in the upcoming national elections, people should support M Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam, should vote for the boat symbol and strengthen the hand of Sheikh Hasina.
He also said, "Boat must win the national election on January 7 at any cost." Leaders and workers at all levels of the party must work unitedly to make Sheikh Hasina's nominated boat symbol, a winner. This journey of development by voting on a boat, Sheikh Hasina should be supported to build a smart Bangladesh by 2041.