BNP leaders Mintoo, Alal, Sohel pull out of election race

“Ask them why they have done it. It’s their personal matter. I know nothing about this,” Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told the media in reply to a query.

The party had nominated Vice-Chairman Mintoo for Feni-3 seat, Joint Secretary General Alal for Barishal-2, and another Joint Secretary General, Sohel, for Dhaka-9.

Alal and Sohel peeved as the party did not give them the seats they wanted to contest for, their supporters say.

Mintoo, a former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), says he has no wish to contest in the polls.

Known to be close to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the 1990s, he complained about the election atmosphere.

“And the situation is not conducive to fair polls. A level playing field has not been created. Our leaders and activists are facing cases, threats, harassments every now and then. In this situation, I think I should spend time in conducting election activities rather than contesting in it,” he told the media.

“The party also thinks so,” he added.

But media reports suggest he is frustrated with the party decision on not awarding him the Feni-1 seat as an alternative candidate to party chief Khaleda Zia, whose election hopes are in jeopardy after conviction in corruption cases. The BNP has chosen Dhaka Metropolitan Juba Dal President Rafiqul Islam Maznu along with Khaleda for the seat.

Besides this, there have been complexities over Mintoo’s dual citizenship.

He denied the media reports on his nomination as false. “A quarter is carrying out a false propaganda on the issue,” he said.

Sohel contested for the Dhaka-8 (Ramna) constituency in the 2008 parliamentary election. He sought to fight for that seat again this time.

“Sohel Bhai worked in Dhaka-8 for past three to four years. But he has been given Dhaka-9 where he is not known,” a person close to the BNP leader told the media on condition of anonymity.

Sohel’s daughter Jannatul Elmy Suchana said in a Facebook post that his father remained “uncompromising like party chief Khaleda Zia on his demand”.

Suchona, who appeared for the interview to the BNP nomination board on her jailed father’s behalf, also alleged Sohel had been 'wronged against' despite suffering for the party for years.

The party has nominated its Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas for Dhaka-8.

For Dhaka-9, it kept Mirza Abbas’ wife Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal chief Afroza Abbas and Habibur Rashid on the list of nominees.

Alal, who ran for a Dhaka seat in the 2008 elections, had sought nomination for Barishal-5 (Sadar) this time.

The BNP, however, has nominated Mojibur Rahman Sarwar for the constituency and picked Alal for Barishal-2.

“I haven’t filed the nomination paper out of ethical reasons. Because our leader is in jail on false charges, our acting chief Tarique Rahman is in exile due to the government’s vengeance,” Alal told the media.

“I don’t feel comfortable about contesting in the election in this situation, but I will work for the party,” he added.