AL plans consensus candidate in Netrakona by-polls

"We have already initiated a dialogue on the matter with the leaders of the political parties opposing the government," said AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil without naming the parties. "And the response on fielding a common candidate against the ruling four-party alliance candidate has so far been positive," he added.

This is the first time since its defeat in October 2001 general elections that the AL is participating in any parliamentary by-election.

Terming the participation in the by-election as part of the ongoing movement against the government, a meeting of the AL central working committee early this month urged all the pro-liberation and non-communal forces to start uniting against the government from the Netrokona-3 by-election.

The ruling coalition has nominated Khadiza Amin, the death of whose husband Nurul Amin Talukder left the constituency vacant.

The AL candidate, M Jubed Ali, won from this constituency in 1991 but was defeated in 1996 and 2001 polls.

Sources in the AL said the successes in some recent municipal and city corporation polls have encouraged the party to contest the Netrokona-3 by-election.

"Moreover, the party wants to revive relations with its old friends and the Netrokona-3 by-election is an occasion to bring together the anti-government forces," said an AL leader.

"If it succeeds, the party will strive for a greater coalition with the like-minded parties against the government," he added.

Sources said senior AL leaders held talks with Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Mujahidul Islam Selim, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu and Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) President Kader Siddiqui MP on the issue.

Party sources said it will also extend the offer to Jatiya Party (Ershad) Chairman Hussain Mohammad Ershad and JP (Manju) chief Anwar Hossain Manju whose candidates will contest the by-election.

In the last general elections, BNP candidate Nurul Amin Talukdar bagged 103,706 votes, while the AL candidate M Jubed Ali got 93,742 votes. In the 1996 elections, Nurul Amin Talukdar beat the same AL candidate by 8,133 votes.

Seven nomination papers have been filed for the by-election. Apart from the four-party alliance and the AL candidates, others who are contesting the election include Ali Osman of the JP (Ershad), Abdul Ali of the JP (Monju), Abu Jaber Sarker of the KSJL, Krishak Mohammad Sadeq of the Krishak Sramik Mukti Andolon and Abdul Wahab, an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, a press release of the Election Commission (EC) yesterday said the election symbols for the by-election will be distributed on July 31. July 30 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature.