50 existing MPs at risk of dropping out from December polls

Abu Hayat Mahmud: To ensure its victory in the upcoming 11th parliamentary polls, scheduled on December 27, the ruling Awami League has completed an all-out preparation of its ground work, with almost 50 existing ruling party MPs at risk of dropping out, Election Commission (EC) sources told the Daily Our Time.
Meanwhile, Awami League has decided to consider around 70 parliamentary seats for its allies from the 14-party Grand Alliance.
If the major opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), seeks to participate in the December 27 polls, Awami League along with the Grand Alliance, which includes HM Ershad’s Jatiyo Party, will consider 70 seats. If BNP boycotts, the Grand Alliance will be considered 50 seats.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader had already told reporters on Saturday that the party is considering giving up 65 to 70 seats for allies ahead of the general election.
According to sources, party inspection teams and an intelligence agency monitored the activities of existing lawmakers, and the premier has also instructed them to provide reports every six months.
A presidium member, Abdur Razzak, claimed that honesty, popularity, educational background and interaction with the grassroots leaders would be considered as the criteria during the selection of the candidates.
In 2016, the ruling Awami League started various groundwork to find out the activities of its existing MPs for the 11th general elections. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed the existing lawmakers and grassroots leaders to resolve their internal conflicts and prepare for the upcoming polls by highlighting the progress the country has made during the last and current terms of her government.
The premier also added that at least 50 existing lawmakers would be dropped from the nomination process due to their controversial activities, unsatisfactory performances and lack of communication with grassroots leaders. Nevertheless, the Awami League President will decide the final decision just ahead of the polls, sources at Gonobhaban confirmed.
Some of the notable Awami League lawmakers who are at risk to be dropped from the nomination process are: Bazlul Haque Haroon, MP from Jhalakathi 1 constituency, against whom there have been allegations of bribery and corruption. Local grassroots leaders also complained that he never maintained any contact with them but has good connections with the local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.
Cox’s Bazar 4 MP Abdur Rahman Bodi for his illegal drug business as well as being convicted in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for accumulating illegal wealth worth around Tk 10.79 crore.
Engineer Enamul Haque, MP from Rajshahi 4 constituency, due to a case filed by the ACC for illegally accumulating wealth and threatening an ACC official.
Other lawmakers at risk are: Md Golam Rabbani, MP from Chapainawabganj 1 constituency, Muhammad Golam Mostofa Biswas from Chapainawabganj 2, Md Abdul Wadud from Chapainawabganj 3, Sheikh Afil Uddin from Jessore 1 and Ranjit Kumar Roy from Jessore 4, Nizam Uddin Hazari from Feni 2, AKM Awal from Pirojpur 1, MA Latif from Chittagong 11, Mustafizur Rahman from Chittagong 16, Md Uddin Elias Molah from Dhaka 16, Dr Md Enamur Rahman from Dhaka 19, Narayan Chandra Chanda from Khulna 5, Sheikh Md Nurul Haque from Khulna 6, Shawkat Hasanur Rahman Rimon from Barguna 2, Amanur Rahman Khan Rana from Tangail 3, Mahmud-Us-Samad Chowdhury Kayes from Sylhet 3, Imran Ahmad from Sylhet 4, and Mohammad Dobirul Islam from Thakurgaon 2, as well as a number of lawmakers in Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Satkhira, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Faridpur, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Mymenshingh, Sunamganj, Chandpur, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Bogra, Jamalpur and Pabna, the sources said.