Shawkat Hossain Hiran, who lost the Barisal City Mayor election, has blamed the defeat on district Awami League President Abul Hasnat Abdullah.
Hiran was the ruling Awami League-backed runner.
At a post-election rally on Tuesday, Hiran claimed that Abul Hasnat, his brother-in-law Kazi Kamal, Bangladesh Chhatra League’s metropolitan chapter General Secretary Ashim Dewan and Hasnat’s friend ‘Jahangir’ were all in fact assisting the BNP-backed eventual winner Ahsan Habib Kamal.
Former Mayor Hiran lost to Kamal in Saturday’s city coprporation polls by a margin of 17,000 votes. This is the first time he directly addressed his rivalry with Abul Hasnat, though it was speculated in the media for a while.
Hiran, metropolitan Awami League President, was the only addressing the rally arranged in Barisal Club Chattar.
The Prime Minister’s cousin Hasnat Abdullah did this to keep his authority in the party, he alleged. “He (Hasnat) did not allow any leaders to come up from the south. He had suppressed leaders like Mahbub Uddin, late Mahiuddin Ahmmed and Enayet Pir Khan.”
Hasnat Abdullah is a Member of Parliament (MP) and a central member of the Awami League. He was the Chief Whip in 1996-2001 term.
Hiran alleged BNP activists were attacking Awami League supporters after their win in the city polls.“During my time, no BNP activist was attacked. But, in the last three days, the BNP has attacked over a hundred Awami League supporters, their houses and looted them.”
“Do not forget the Awami League is still in power. If any more attacks are carried out, they will be answered,” he warned
Source: Bd news24