Candidates’ Election Debate held
Special Correspondent: Amar Bangladesh Party will elect its chairman today at Suhrawardy Udyan in a conference. The party’s 2,700 councilors will elect the chairman. In the debate, the candidates presented their future plans, past contributions, and the rationale for their candidacy to the councilors.
Meanwhile, the party has organized a debate among the candidates contesting the election for the chairmanship of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party. The debate was held at the party’s central office in Bijoy Nagar in the capital on Tuesday. Three candidates participated in it to be elected.
The AB Party’s press release said that the candidates answered the questions of why they became candidates in the debate; what they will do if elected; whatever the result, whether they will accept it or not. In the debate, which was broadcast live online, the three candidates described the party’s internal elections as a journey on the path of democracy and expressed satisfaction with the voting environment. They promised to maintain unity.
The candidates participating in the debate, moderated by AB Party Central Committee member Javed Iqbal, were the party’s founding convener AF Solaiman Chowdhury, founding member secretary Mujibur Rahman and joint convener Colonel (retd) Didarul Alam. AB Party Chief Election Commissioner Waresul Karim delivered a welcome speech at the event.
Earlier, voting was held for 21 posts of the AB Party’s National Executive Council On December 27 and 28. There were 60 candidates.
The three chairman candidates were asked why they wanted to become the president. In response, Mujibur Rahman said, “The AB Party has had many bitter experiences in its four years. I have approached many well-known people to form the party. They said, ‘New politics is needed.’ But no one joined. There were obstacles from the government, threats from intelligence agencies, and bullying on social media. Many joined but gave up. More challenges will come. That is why I have become a candidate at the request of the party’s grassroots leaders and workers.”
AFM Solaiman Chowdhury said that he left the post of party convener to contest the elections so that the elections would not be affected. He said, “AB Party is not a party of one person. I wanted to see how the AB Party will run if I resign. After my resignation, I saw that it is running well, there are no problems.” To the same question, Didarul Alam said, “Although I am new in politics, I was imprisoned for 10 years during the fascist regime. Although I am new in politics, I am more experienced than the other two candidates.”
The three candidates were asked why leaders and activists would vote for him and what his contribution was to the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement and the party. In response, Mujibur Rahman said that he hopes they will vote for him because of his close contact with Trinamool leaders and activists. Former Secretary of the Government Solaiman Chowdhury said, “I have contacted Trinamool leaders and activists. I have formed committees in more than 250 upazilas. I have built friendly relations with the leadership. AB Party will be the largest party in Bangladesh in the next three years.”
Regarding the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement, Colonel (retd) Didarul Alam said he was in the field day after day. He was shot during that time. A police raid was underway at his house. Mujibur Rahman was arrested from there. A procession of retired army officers was led by him on August 1.
