# ICT State Minister's brother-in-law withdraws from vote
# Most of the relatives are announcing the withdrawal of candidature
The ruling party Awami League (AL) has been urging the family members and close relatives of the ministers and MPs to withdraw from the contest in the upazila parishad elections. AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader held a meeting to take action in this regard and gave the responsibility to the concerned divisional secretaries. The in-charge called the concerned ministers and MPs and asked them to implement the party directives.
At the time of writing this report, no relatives of the ministers and MPs except the brother-in-law of the State Minister for ICT have announced the withdrawal of nomination papers. Some justify their candidacy. The concerned MPs, ministers and their relatives are dissatisfied with the AL's directive regarding the family members and relatives of the ministers and MPs. Again, those who are popular and not relatives of ministers and MPs are happy with this directive of the party.
However, relatives of the ministers and MPs said that some of them have influence, but many are popular and elected public representatives more than once. Their rights to such instructions are being violated although relatives, many candidates are popular with their identity and qualifications.
On April 15, miscreants beat up Delwar Hossain, the chairman candidate of Singra Upazila Parishad, from the office of the District Election Officer in Natore and took him away in a black microbus. Later, after 5 pm, the miscreants left Delwar in a dying condition in front of the village house (Parsail village of Singra's Kalam Union). He is currently undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Later, his brother Mujibur Rahman filed a murder case with Sadar Police Station against unidentified persons. So far, the police have arrested three people in two phases. The next day, on the evening of April 16, Sumon Ahmed, who was arrested, gave a statement to the court under section 164. In the confession, he confessed to abducting Delwar Hossain in favor of his opponent candidate Lutful Habib. At that time, he mentioned the names of some other people involved in the incident. The accused, Lutful Habib, is the brother-in-law of Upazila AL Joint General Secretary and State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed. He left the post of chairman of Shercol Union Parishad of the upazila and came to the upazila parishad election.
The incident sparked nationwide criticism. Lutful Habib, another chairman candidate of Singra Upazila Parishad, has withdrawn his nomination paper after allegations of abduction. He made the announcement in a video message sent to media persons. Lutful Habib sent the video to some journalists in Natore around 11am yesterday. However, District Election Officer Abdul Latif Sheikh said, "If you want to withdraw the nomination paper, you have to apply to me (Returning Officer). The candidate himself or his nominee must apply. That didn't happen. An aide of the candidate only called the Singra Upazila Election Officer and informed about such a decision. But the withdrawal cannot be confirmed until the application is received."
Meanwhile, the upazila AL has ordered Lutful Habib to withdraw his nomination paper over the abduction. The decision was taken at an emergency extended meeting of the Upazila AL on the evening of April 20. At the same time, it has been decided to send letters to the central leaders to expel the leaders of the parties and associate organizations involved in the abduction.
Lutful Habib said in the video, "I resigned from the post on April 3 to participate in the upazila parishad elections. An unusual situation has been created in the area since the filing of nomination papers. From which I understand that a conspiracy has started against me. A group has become active in this conspiracy. He said that in view of these incidents, he has decided to withdraw the nomination papers and is going to start the formal process."
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal's brother-in-law Md Jahangir Alam has submitted his nomination paper for the Barura Upazila Parishad election in Cumilla. Abdul Hamid Latif Bhuiyan (Kamal). He has no post in AL. Hamid Kamal, a businessman by profession, hails from Monoharpur village in Adra union of Barura upazila. He has been doing public relations for a long time. Asked why he contested the election despite instructions to the minister's relatives not to take part in the election, Hamid Kamal said, "My brother-in-law is an MP from Dhaka-12 constituency. He is the Minister of the Interior. I never use the identity of a minister. There is no such allegation against me. Although I belong to AL, if I wished, I could take the post of AL in Comilla or Dhaka. He added: "I don't have any position in the party. So I want to choose my own identity, it should not be a problem."
Golam Sarwar, younger brother of former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, has submitted his nomination paper for the chairman post of Comilla-10 (Sadar South, Lalmai and Nangalkot) constituency. He was elected chairman of the upazila parishad for three consecutive terms in 2009, 2014 and 2019. He is the vice-president of South District AL and President of Upazila AL. Regarding being a candidate, he told the media, "The party leaders and workers held meetings and put pressure on him for the election. Also, voters will judge in this election what work we have done in 15 years. I have been working in the field for the election for a few months, now it is not possible to move away from the voting field."
Meanwhile, an official at the Secretariat yesterday expressed anger on condition of anonymity, saying that the party's directive to the relatives of ministers and MPs to step aside from the election is not right, because all the relatives of the ministers and MPs do not show dominance. Besides, many are popular, many are popular in such instructions of AL.
Mohammad Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, MP of Noakhali-4 (Sadar and Subarnachar) constituency, was criticized for making controversial remarks while campaigning for his son in the upazila election. He has been criticized for declaring that he will not develop the area if he does not vote for his son Subarnachar upazila chairman candidate Atahar Ishraque alias Shabab Chowdhury. Athar Ishraque alias Shabab Chowdhury has been instructed by the central AL to withdraw from the election, but he did not announce his withdrawal from the election till yesterday evening. Amar Khabar tried to contact him by calling his mobile phone number several times, but he did not pick up the phone.
On April 20, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said at a press briefing at the party president's Dhanmondi political office that the upazila elections are being held. Close relatives of ministers and MPs will have to step aside from the upazila elections. Those who want to do so in the future have also been asked to stay away from the electoral process. Instructions have been given to make a list of those who are there. The list is being prepared accordingly. Asked about the fact that many people are still in the election despite the instructions, Obaidul Quader said, "How can it be said before the date of withdrawal is over?"
ZH
