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Axing not helping

Contestants defy AL order, stick to upazila race

Shariful Islam and Shakhawat Liton
Fahmi Golondaz Babel, a chairman aspirant from Gafargaon upazila in Mymensingh, was expelled from Awami League (AL) for refusing to quit the race following 'directive of party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.’
Like Babel, many grassroots-level leaders were axed from AL as part of the party high command's actions against the dissident leaders contesting the upazila polls, ignoring party decisions.
Mymensingh district AL unit president Principal Matiur Rahman and Captain (retd) Giasuddin Ahmed on January 17 in a letter to Babel asked him to lend support to Alai Ahmed as the AL- backed candidate for the upazila polls.
The letter, a copy of whichThe Daily Star obtained, reads 'if he fails to comply with the decision he would be expelled from the party as per the directive of AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.'
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Babel sent a copy of the letter to the Election Commission to say whether using the prime minister's name to settle disputes related to local body elections violates the electoral code of conduct, EC Secretariat sources said.
As per the party chiefs directives, local units initiated steps to pick a single party-backed candidate for each post to ensure triumph in the upazila polls, where political parties are not allowed to contest formally.
As of yesterday, grassroots-level leaders failed to agree over finalising candidacy in many upazilas, exposing the party's fragile chain of command only two days ahead of the upazila election slated for January 22.
However, the expelled leaders said they would contest the polls.
In a few upazilas including six in Khulna and two in Faridpur, disputes over candidacies were settled.
"Upon receiving directives from the party high-ups, we settled the disputes and picked a single candidate against each post in six upazilas," Sheikh Harunut Rashid, president of Khulna district AL told The Daily Stai yesterday over telephone.
In MouMbazar, disputes over candidacy still remain as some party leaders refused tc quit the electoral race, part] sources said.
At least three grassroots AI leaders were expelled from th< party in Mymensingh fo refusing to comply with part’ decisions.
Besides, 14 AI. activists u Mymensingh were als< expelled for supporting rebe candidates
Abdul Matin Sarkar, gen eral secretary of Mymensingl district AL unit, told The Dail Star yesterday that Babel wa expelled from the party but h continued his election cam paign.
Leaders of district, upazil and union AL units tried t pick a single contender for chairman from each upazila. But their attempts failed in many upazilas.
Although the expulsion of grassroots-level leaders from the party continued for the last few days, the actual figure
of expelled AL leaders could not be known immediately.
Five AL leaders were expelled from the party in Chandpur for contesting the polls ignoring party high command’s decision.
In Comilla, Sadar Dakkhin AL unit health secretary Khorshed Alam was expelled from the party on Sunday for contesting the polls for chairmanship.
Satkhira District AL yesterday expelled one rebel upazila chairman and three vice-chairmen aspirants.
In Rangpur, two local AL leaders were expelled from AL on Sunday for contesting for chairman from Mithapukur and Rangpur sadar upazila.
The upazila polls campaigns will end today midnight