Natore: Delwar Hossain, the victim of kidnapping and beating, was elected chairman of Singra Upazila Parishad of Natore without any contest after various speculations.
Delwar Hossain was declared unopposed in a letter signed by Abdul Latif Sheikh, Natore District Election Officer and Upazila Election Returning Officer, on Tuesday (April 23) afternoon.
Natore District Election Officer and Returning Officer Abdul Latif Sheikh confirmed this information and told BanglaNews that if there is a single candidate for any position, the returning officer can officially declare him unopposed on the day after the deadline for withdrawal of candidature has passed.
Since there is no candidate other than Delwar Hossain for the post of Singra Upazila Chairman, Delwar Hossain has been declared unopposed today. However, the voting for the post of Vice Chairman will be held on the scheduled date.
In the first phase of this year’s sixth upazila parishad election, two candidates submitted nomination papers for the post of chairman in Singra upazila parishad election. After verification, the nomination papers of Returning Officer Lutful Habib Rubel and Delwar Hossain were declared valid. But Lutful Habib Rubel, brother-in-law of Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak, withdrew his candidacy from Singra Upazila Parishad election on Sunday (April 21). As a result, the way to be elected unopposed is smooth for chairman candidate Delwar Hossain who was kidnapped and beaten.
Meanwhile, Delwar Hossain was elected chairman of Singra Upazila Parishad of Natore unopposed, his elder brother Mujibur Rahman and his relatives expressed happiness. They also thanked journalists and law enforcement officials. Elected Chairman Delwar Hossain is currently undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. His physical condition is improving and he expressed happiness at the news of being selected.
It should be noted that last Monday (April 15) Delwar Hossain went out to deposit the security money in the bank for filing the nomination papers. At that time, some miscreants abducted Alauddin Munsi in a black colored microbus when he went in front of the district election office. Later, when Delwar Hossain came down from the election office, he was also picked up in a microbus. At this time, the miscreants beat him badly inside the car.
Later in the afternoon, he dropped it in front of Delwar Hossain’s house (Parasaiil village of Kalam union of Singra upazila). Two CCTV footages of the abduction of chairman candidate Delwar Hossain are available. The car in which Delwar Hossain was abducted belonged to his rival Lutful Habib Rubel. Later, when the injured Delwar Hossain’s brother filed a case as a plaintiff, the police conducted a raid and arrested the three accused. The arrested persons admitted the involvement of the rival candidate Lutful Habib Rubel in the statement under section 164 in the court.
Besides, the black colored microbus used in the kidnapping of chairman candidate Delwar Hossain. Police also arrested a person named Ataur Rahman (45). Also, two china chapatis, one china tip knife, one Burmese cutter, two native ramadas, two steel pipes, two stamps/sticks, one chapati, election poster, handbill, calendar were seized from inside the microbus.
In addition, from that microbus, the brother-in-law of the state minister, chairman candidate Md. Numerous leaflets, stickers, posters with pictures of Lutful Habib Rubel were also seized.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Tariqul Islam gave this information in a press conference in front of the office of Natore Superintendent of Police at around 7 pm on Saturday (April 20). Earlier, the microbus was recovered from the garage of his house in Chakpur village of Singra upazila around 5:30 pm.
The storm of nationwide discussion on this intensified. Besides, chairman candidate Lutful Habib Rubel is the brother-in-law of state minister Junaid Ahmed Palak, so the issue became the talk of the country. State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak is in an embarrassing situation. Later, he visited chairman candidate Delwar who was undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College (RAMEC) Hospital and inquired about the treatment.
In this incident, Palak ordered his brother-in-law Rubel to withdraw his candidature. At the same time, the central decision of the party was taken that no minister, MP or relatives of Awami League leaders can be candidates in the upazila elections.
Bangladesh Time: 1548 hours, April 23, 2024
RA
