Land Minister’s daughter has submitted her nomination paper to fight for the post of Pabna District Council chairman, though she is not Awami League’s preferred candidate.
Mahjabin Shirin Piya, daughter of Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif submitted the nomination paper on Tuesday to Pabna Deputy Commissioner Rekha Rani Balo, who is the returning officer for the elections.
If Shirin does not withdraw her nomination within the deadline, she will be running as a rebel candidate against the official party nominee, Pabna Awami League’s Senior Vice-President Rezaul Rahim Lal in the upcoming elections.
Since submission of the nomination, Shirin has been facing criticism from within the party for her decision to compete as an independent candidate, but she is confronting the criticism by saying: “I want to contest the polls to boost women empowerment.”
“I have built my position on my own, without any favouritism from my father or uncle or anyone else, and I will stay on the battle ground till the end,” she declared.
Shirin is the women affairs secretary of Panba Awami League and joint general secretary of Awami League’s Ishwardi Upazila unit.
She resigned from the post of female vice-chairman of Ishwardi Upazila Awami League before submitting the nomination paper.
Leaders of the Awami League’s Pabna unit have expressed anger over her move stating that many of the minister’s family members are already holding several administrative positions in the town.
One of the local leaders pointed out that Shirin’s father is a minister and also the chairman of Pabna Awami League while her husband Abul Kalam Azad is Ishwardi municipality mayor; her brother Shihan Sharif Tomal is the chairman of Upazila Juba League and uncle Anis Sharif is the chairman of Lokkhikunda Union Council.
“How many more do you want from the same family?” asked the disgruntle leader on condition of anonymity.
Pabna MP Golam Faruq Prince said: “We will try our best to ensure that no rebel candidate is running in the polls.”
Pabna Awami League’s Senior Vice-President Rezaul Rahim Lal and official candidate of the party said the party would take action against anyone going against the ‘collaborative decision’ of the party.
Source: Bd news24
