The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Barisal

Some 31 retired army officials and seven bureaucrats want to contest in the upcoming national elections from 17 out of 21 constituencies of Barisal division from Awami League-led grand alliance and BNP-led four-party alliance. Field level reports, collected from different constituencies of six districts of the division, revealed that only Barguna-1, Patuakhali-3, Patuakhali-4 and Bhola-1 yet remained out of reach of the nomination aspirant high army officials and bureaucrats.

Meanwhile Awami League already has given nominations to three retired army men and one bureaucrat in four constituencies in the division. But they are almost new comers in the party and not supported by grass root level leaders and workers, sources said.

Awami League already announced nominations to Lt Col (retd) Zahirul Huq Shamim for Barisal-5, Major Gen (retd) Hafiz Mallik for Barisal-6, Major (retd) Jasim for Bhola-3 and former additional secretary Sk Habibur Rahman for Pirojpur-2.

While no female candidate was nominated from AL but an alleged war criminal Mawlana BH Harun got nomination for Pirojpur-1 from AL.