3 independent AL candidates withdraw, clearing the way for ex-BNP leader Abdus Sattar

Three independent Awami League candidates in the by-polls to Brahmanbaria-2 have withdrawn their candidacy.

The three candidates are: joint secretary of Brahmanbaria district AL and general secretary of district Sports Association Mahbubul Bari Chowdhury Montu, former joint secretary of Brahmanbaria district AL Md Moin Uddin Moin, and former leader of Chhatra League Shahjahan Alam Saju.

The candidates, led by district Awami League General Secretary and district Council Chairman Al Mamun Sarker, withdrew their candidacy by going to the Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Returning Officer's office around 11:30 on Saturday, said Assistant Returning Officer and district Election Officer Md Zillur Rahman.

There are now five candidates contesting in the by-elections, including lawyer Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, who resigned from BNP.

Four other candidates are: Jatiya Party's Abdul Hamid Bhasani, Zaker Party's Jahirul Islam Jewel, independently running JP rebel Ziaul Haque Mridha and local BNP leader Abu Asif.

About withdrawing from the by-polls, Md Moin Uddin said, “We have withdrawn due to personal reasons.”

Abdus Sattar was elected as MP from the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency five times.

On January 1, BNP removed Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan from all posts for "violating party decisions and engaging in anti-party activities".

Sattar resigned from all his posts within the party, including the Chairperson's Advisory Council, on December 31 last year. By-polls to five parliamentary seats will be held on February 1.

The EC will conduct the by-polls to Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2 and Brahmanbaria-2.

On December 11 last year, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament.

Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and the ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit resignation to the Speaker in person. The MPs sent their resignation through an email on December 10.