Jamaat candidates locked up in Sylhet, Sunamganj to prevent nomination withdrawal

Two Jamaat candidates were locked up in Sylhet and Sunamganj on Tuesday(January 20), the last day for withdrawal of candidatures for the 13th National Parliament elections.

Leaders and activists tried to stop Maulana Lokman Ahmed in Sylhet-3 constituency and Maulana Tofail Ahmed in Sunamganj-1 constituency to prevent their withdrawal of nominations.

Sources have confirmed that the two Jamaat candidates withdrew their nominations on the last day as per the alliance's decision.

Khilafat Majlis leader Musleh Uddin Raju will contest the election as a candidate of the 10-party alliance in Sylhet-3 constituency. Therefore, Jamaat leaders and activists locked Lokman Ahmed's house in Dakshin Surma to prevent his withdrawal of nomination. His mobile was also switched off at that time. In the afternoon, the leaders and activists took a stand in front of his house and demanded a reconsideration of the alliance's decision. Lokman Ahmed was the chairman of the South Surma Upazila Parishad. Sylhet's Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam confirmed this information.

Bangladesh Nejam-e-Islam Party, an alliance partner, has been nominated as a candidate in Sunamganj-1 constituency, surpassing Jamaat. In protest of this decision, district Jamaat leaders and activists blocked District Ameer Tofail Ahmed from the party office in Sunamganj city from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Sunamganj District Jamaat Naib-e-Ameer Momtazul Hasan Abed said that earlier there were discussions about giving the seat to Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Later, as the party withdrew from the alliance, the election of the district Ameer was almost certain. However, on Tuesday morning, the seat was given to Nejam-e-Islam Party as per the alliance decision. He said that the party's decision should be followed, although the emotions of the workers will also be respected.