Candidature for Dhaka-10 constituency by-election has now become talk of the town as names of half a dozen aspirants from Awami League (AL) are being discussed as the possible candidate, said party sources. The issue came to centre of attention immediately after the resignation of lawmaker Fazle Nur Taposh from the constituency. Taposh resigned from the post to contest the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) election scheduled for January 30. However, party sources said, everything is depending on the decision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Bangladesh Awami League.
Sources said it is not clear yet whether the candidate would be decided from the family of Bangabandhu or from the party leaders.
As per the rules of the Election Commission, it is mandatory to hold the election within 90 days of the vacancy of any constituency and following the EC rules, the election in Dhaka-10 Constituency will be held in the month of March. Awami League sources said, immediately after the resignation of Taposh, name of his elder brother Fazle Shams Parash, also the newly elected Chairman of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, is being discussed as the possible candidate in the by-election.
Although, Parash was not directly involved with the party politics earlier, he is now active in politics after he has been made the Jubo League Chairman in the recent council. Sources said, candidate for the Dhaka-10 Constituency from Awami League will be decided considering clean image, popularity and also dedication to the party.
According to party sources, among others, names of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Radwan Mujib Siddique, the son of Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana, Afrin Taposh, the wife of Fazle Nur Taposh, Awami League leader Kazi Zafar Ullah, a defeated candidate in the past National Parliament Election from Faridpur-4, are also being discussed.
According to Awami League’s party sources, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the IT Adviser to the Prime Minister, is the number-1 member of Rangpur district Awami League. He had been offered to contest the past National Parliament Election from Rangpur. But he denied to take part in politics directly.
Although, Rehana’s son Radwan Mujib Siddique is not involved with politics directly, he is working as the coordinator of the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), a research wing of Bangladesh Awami League. The wife of Fazle Nur Taposh is also being discussed as the candidate as she had been very active during the past National Parliament Election in favour of her husband.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) sources said, whether it would take part in the by-election would be decided after the Dhaka city polls ended. Decision of Jatiya Party on the participation in the by-election could not be known yet. However, sources said it might take part.
