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| Bangladesh |
| BNP-Jamaat splits over Sylhet upazila poll |
| 2014-02-08 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] An apparent split has surfaced between the BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... over the choosing of a single candidate to participate in the upcoming upazila poll in the district. The Sylhet BNP is also clearly divided into two camps reagrding the formation of its Sadar upazila convener committee. The leaders said such confrontation and division within the party might affect the upazila election. The first phase of the upazila elections will be held on February 19 in 12 upazilas in Sylhet division. In Jaintapur upazila under Sylhet district, Jamaat leader Jainal Abedin has got the support of the 19-party alliance led by the BNP. The former main opposition BNP has picked nine candidates of its own in nine of a total of 19 upazilas. It has also chosen its own candidates in two other upazilas -- Chhatok and Doara. At Biswanat upazilla in Sylhet, Jamaat chose one of its leaders Nizam Uddin Chowdhury as the candidate, while BNP mulled over picking its own candidate, thus ultimately leading to chaos between the BNP-Jamaat alliance. The central BNP administration selected former Pourasava mayor Iqbal Ahmed as its sole candidate in Jokiganj upazila, while the party's local unit opposed the decision. The local BNP activists are working for another leader Saifuddin Ahmed. The same scenario occurred in Companyganj upazila, where the BNP nominated Ali Ahmad as its candidate while its activists chose upazila BNP Organising Secretary Sahab Uddin. |
| Posted by:Fred |