Two brothers vie for Awami League nomination in Kalapara

Two brothers Brig Gen (retd) Md Habibur Rahman and Md Mahbur Rahman seek nomination from Kalapara.

Patuakhali: two brothers from the same family are seeking the nomination of ruling party Awami League in 114, Patuakhali-4 constituency. In this, their families, relatives and party leaders and workers are in trouble. Their conflict is now at an extreme as no initiative can unite them. Upazila Awami League president Md. Mahbubur Rahman is the elder brother who is hoping for nomination. Who was elected MP in this constituency in the eighth, ninth and tenth national parliament elections. And after becoming the Minister of State for Water Resources in the 9th Parliament, he built a cadre force, opened a contracting company called Gangamati, took over tenders, acquired land and overnight became the owner of huge wealth beyond the known income. In this, ACC filed a case against both Mahbub and his wife Preeti Haider on charges of acquiring assets outside of known income and filed a charge sheet in the court accusing both of them. Apart from this, ACC has started investigating two separate cases against him on the orders of the court of embezzlement of Tk 10 crores of Khepupara Central Jame Masjid and embezzlement of government Mozahar Uddin Biswas College.

On the other hand, Mahbub's younger brother Brigadier General (retd) Md. Habibur Rahman Milon is seeking Awami League nomination for the same seat. He is former NSI, former SSF director and member of Upazila Awami League. This time when he is seeking Awami League's nomination in the 12th National Assembly elections, Mahbub becomes angry. The quarrel between the two brothers is now the talk of the town.

According to sources, 114 Patuakhali-4 constituencies consist of two municipalities, 12 unions of Kalapara upazila and 6 unions of Rangabali upazila. The total number of voters in this seat is 2 lakh 88 thousand 341 people. Among them, one lakh 99 thousand 455 people are in Kalapara. And 88 thousand 886 people in Rangabali upazila. Among the total voters, male voters are 1 lakh 46 thousand 267 and female voters are 1 lakh 42 thousand 74. Awami League government has added a new dimension to the development and prosperity of the country with the development project worth millions of taka in this southern town. Boat has won in this constituency even during BNP regime. However, during the dictatorship Ershad's regime, JP candidate became an MP by snatching the ballot box.

Earlier in the 2008 election, Awami League nominated candidate won this seat by getting 90 thousand 775 votes. BNP candidate of the four-party alliance got 60 thousand 12 votes. Then in the 2014 election, Awami League candidate was elected unopposed. In 2018, Awami League candidate Md. Mohibbur Rahman was elected with a record number of votes. After he became MP, he opened all the rivers, canals, sluices, culverts of this constituency for farmers. Terrorism, extortion, arbitration business freed this town. His delivery of food aid to the homes of the needy people in times of natural calamities, regardless of sun and rain, sometimes in a van and sometimes in a canoe boat and went down into the weeping water, was commendable. He is also seeking party nomination from this seat. And is in a strong position in the nomination battle, party sources said.

Besides, if BNP participates in the election, BNP's strong candidate for this seat is Central Committee Training Affairs Secretary and Upazila BNP President ABM Mosharraf Hossain. Mufti Habibur Rahman is the candidate for the hand fan symbol of Charmonai Pir's Islamic Movement of Bangladesh. Journalist Biswas Shihab Parvez Mithu will be selected with torch mark symbol of Jasad (Inu) and Amjad Hussain Howlader is being heard as candidate of JP (A). - Gofran Biswas Palash