Who’s ahead in the race to get Awami League ticket?

Who is going to be Awami League nominated candidate for the eleventh parliamentary election in Faridpur- 1 constituency. Plenty of discussion is going on throughout the Faridpur district regarding this. Between the four parliamentary seats of faridpur, this is the largest and maybe the most important seat. This seat is also known as one of the strongest base of Bangladesh Awami League. Once there was a thought that the person who gets the Awami League ticket for this seat gets elected as a parliament member at ease. But it has changed in the evolution of time. Now candidate selection has become a very big issue in this constituency. Faridpur-1 constituency is consists of three upazilas which are Alfadanga, Boalmari and Madhukhali. So who is going to hold the `Boat Symbol' for Bangladesh awami league at the eleventh parliamentary election in Faridpur- 1 constituency?

And who is honestly ahead of them all in the race to get the awami league nomination? This question is now circulating in entire faridpur. Will it be Bangladesh Awami League’s joint general secretary and current parliament member of this seat Abdur Rahman MP or owner of Amin Jewellers and former member of parliament Kazi Sirazul Islam or is it going to be the Editor of Dhaka Times, Ei-Somoy and the Chairman of Kanchan Munshi Foundation Arifur Rahman Dolon?

Though this seat is considered as Awami League’s fort but the general voters are believing that the candidate selection will be the key factor in the next election. Most of the Awami League leaders and activists are saying that the current parliament member Abdur Rahman’s negative activities in the election area are the reasons why a brand new candidate has become so iminent. Through various inquiries it is known that there are many candidates out there who are also willing to get the nomination for the forthcoming national parliamentary election. The current MP Abdur rahman is also among them. Besides former parliamentarian kazi sirazul islam who once left Bangladesh Awami League for BNP and now quite obviously the Editor of Dhaka Times and weekly Ei-somoy the young social worker Arifur rahman dolon too are longing for that nomination.

Awami League activists and supporters of these three upazilas have constantly been saying that in spite of being the joint general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League the political position of MP Abdur Rahman in the grassroot level is extremely poor. At the last district council election in Alfadanga, Madhukhali and Faridpur territory, the candidate member who was supported by MP Abdur Rahman had lost with a huge margin. Local Awami League leaders firmly believe that in the last Boalmari municipality election, only because of MP Abdur Rahman, Awami League candidate Shahjahan miradah pikul came at third. In local politics, pikul is known as one of his closest friends. And just because of that Pikul was laydown in that election. They also expressed that if Abdur rahman gets the nomination then it might be impossible to hold the Faridpur - 1 seat.

Former parliamentarian Kazi sirazul islam too an expectant of the nomination. At one time he had a good image amongest the local people. He eventually became a member of parliament in 2001 with Awami League's ticket. Later he left the party and shocking joined BNP, interestingly he did that stuff on that time when Bangladesh Awami League was having a very bad phase and he didn’t stop with that he even gave some negative statements about none other than the Party President Sheikh Hasina and with that for plain reasons he had lost his political image. Even though he has been welcomed centrally, he still has problems connecting with local people, party activists and it is happening only because of his past deeds. He has also aged. He couldn’t help himself associating with young folks due to his age. However, he is known as a very gentle and charitable person.

Amongest all who are hoping to get the Awami League ticket this time, the one who is in the center of discussion is Arifur Rahman Dolon. The most important thing about him is he has a very clear image as a person among the local people. He’s young and has invincible spirit in activities. He also belongs to a very noble family of Alfadanga, like his family tradition he has been involved in various social development activities too. In addition to his own upazila, he has become very popular within the Boalmari and Madhukhali people too through various social deeds.

Besides, he has played a very significant role in roads and infrastructural development of these three upazila's. A technical training center (TTC) is being built in kamargram, Alfadanga mainly because of his hard efforts. Most of the local Awami League activists feels that he can easily get acquinted with the local people. The underprivileged people of this area always finds him whenever they need someone beside them. Inall, this emerging Leader has been quite successful to create a transparent image into the local people. Arifur rahman dolon had launched rallies, made several conferences on anti-drug movement in those three upazilas, and raised various development activities of the government to the common peoples of these area. Kanchan munshi foundation which is established and operated by its sponsor Arifur rahman dolon has launched computer training programmes for the unemployed people of these three upazilas. Arifur rahman dolon has also worked for `Library Patronage' as a part of social advancement. Earlier this year, he has given hundreds of books to Birshreshrha munshi abdur rouf's memorial library at roufnagar Madhukhali. Further he has played the principal role in preserving the museum of Birshreshtha munshi abdur rouf and also his memorized home. Recently, again only through his solo efforts the light of electricity has finally reached to Birshreshtha munshi abdur rouf's village.

Local Awami activists and supporters believes that if Arifur rahman dolon gets the nomination for the next parliament election in Faridpur - 1 constituency then Bangladesh Awami League can easily take this seat to their home. The biggest reason behind this is, this seat which is built on three upazilas, it’s fortune has always been decides by the votes of Alfadanga people. And, Arifur Rahman Dolon has a strong presense throughout Alfadanga as a son of Alfadanga upazila.