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The nomination seekers in Pabna-4 constituency have stepped up campaigns in a bid to convince their party high-ups for party tickets, even though the general election is still over a year away.
Many areas of Atgharia and Ishwardi upazilas under the constituency are replete with posters, billboards and banners of nomination seekers of Awami League, BNP and other parties.
The aspiring candidates vying for nominations and their supporters have hit the campaign trail by conducting mass contact and distributing leaflets to manifest their popularity alongside keeping in close touch with their party high-ups to ensure their nomination. They have also become active in social and organisational activities.
As the battle to get party ticket among their probable candidates is getting fierce, the top district leaders of Awami League and BNP have also intensified their efforts to contain intra-party conflicts and strengthen their parties' organisational capacity.
They are holding views-exchange meetings, discussions and various programmes with grassroots leaders and activists to make them united and motivated for working for the candidates who will bag their respective party tickets, reports UNB.
The constituency is known as a stronghold of Awami League as its leader and current Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif was elected MP for four consecutive times since 1996 while BNP leader Sirajul Islam Sardar became MP only once in 1991.
Apart from the land minister, a number of Awami League leaders, including ex-MP Panjab Ali Biswas, central Swechchhasebak leader Rafiqul Islam Liton, Supreme Court lawyer Rabiul Alam Budu, have started mass contact and various social works for getting party nomination.
Former BNP-MP Sirajul Islam Sardar, industrialist Akram Ali Khan Sanju, party chairperson's adviser Habiur Rahman Habib, district BNP joint general secretary Jakaria Pintu and Ishwardi upazila BNP president Shamsuddin Ahmed Malitha have also launched campaign to demonstrate their popularity for securing party ticket.
BNP insiders said as there's a strong rivalry between Sairjul and Habib, the party high-ups may pick Sanju as its candidate for the constituency in the next polls.
Talking to UNB, Ishwardi upazila Awami League general secretary and upazila chairman Mokhlesur Rahman Mintoo said they will work together for the candidate whoever gets nomination from the party high command.
Contacted, Sanju said he has long been working in the area and conducting mass campaign regularly. "I'm getting overwhelming response from people, and I believe our party will nominate me as its candidate in the constituency."
Local BNP leaders said they could not win the last three elections in the seat due to severe intra-party conflicts and failure to install a single candidate.
They hoped their party high command will be able to give a single candidate in the next polls to ensure its victory.
Local Awami League leaders said their party is also facing serious intra-party feud currently as many upazila unit leaders of the ruling party and its associate bodies have taken stance against Shamsur Rahman Sherif over various issues.
Leaders close to him, however, claimed that the minister has almost resolved the misunderstanding with the local leaders through repeatedly visiting the area and holding meeting with the dissidents.
Apart from Awami League and BNP aspirants, Pabna Jamaat amir Abu Taleb Mondal is also working in the constituency to contest as an independent candidate.