Hasna Rahman, Rangpur
Hossain Moqbul Shahriar Asif, nephew of late Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, is contesting in the by-election of Rangpur-3 constituency as independent candidate against Jatiya Party candidate Rahgir Al Mahi Saad, son of HM Ershad. The election is scheduled to be held on October 5. Asif was, however, highly optimistic of being elected as an MP by defeating Saad.
Being hailed in politics through family lineage, former MP Shahriar Asif believes that people of Rangpur will not make further mistake in choosing their leader. Referring to the election he said, the people were puzzled in a series of dramatic-equations and changes in decision making of Jatiya Party in the recent past.
He alleged, a number of party leaders did not evaluate local leaders and common people rather by exploiting sentiment and love of people of Rangpur, those leaders have enjoyed all facilities and their erroneous decisions have created division in Jatiya Party.
On the other hand, with the pledges to complete the unfinished tasks left by his father, Saad Ershad is now busy in campaigning around the constituency round the clock. Holding the 'plough' on his shoulder, he was embracing people irrespective of their caste, religion and social status. Smilingly exchanging views with all, Saad is visiting villages and towns, hats and markets every day. Common voters, however, are perplexed by watching the absence of mainstream Jatiya Party leaders to accompany Saad during his election campaigning.
On the other hand, Shahriar Asif is also busy in campaigning. He is familiar to the local people as a 'local' candidate and as the nephew of Ersahd. There is a speculation among voters that a portion of local unit of Awami League, Jatiya Party and BNP are working silently in favour of Shahriar Asif. Ousted from Jatiya Party, former Upazila Vice Chairman Masud Nabi Munna was, however, seen to campaigning for Shahriar Asif's candidacy.
Meanwhile, none of the local BNP leaders were seen to participate in campaigning for 'Sheaf of Paddy' as well as Rita Rahman. Though Awami League had nominated a candidate for contesting from the party, he did not show up at last as per instruction from the party's central high command. Under such situation, local elites, political personalities and common people are in opinion that if the rivalry between Saad Ersahd and Shahriar Asif continues and all factions of Jatiya Party are not united to support Saad and the BNP leaders continue to keep indifference with Rita Rahman, the by-election of Rangpur-3 without any AL candidate may be resulted in a debacle for the symbol of Plough for the first time in Rangpur.
