Home Minister's brother-in-law, Lotus Kamal's brother submit nomination forms

Awami League directed the relatives of ministers and MPs not to take part in the ensuing upazila parishad election to keep the polls free from influence. But, many have become candidates at different upazilas in Cumilla district ignoring the party directive.

Under the second phase of the election, home minister's brother-in-law submitted his nomination paper at Barura upazila, while former finance minister's younger brother submitted nomination paper at Sadar South Upazila in Cumilla district on Sunday.

District Election Office and local sources said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal's brother-in-law Md Abdul Hamid Latif Bhuiyan (Kamal) submitted nomination form for taking part in Barura Upazila Parishad election. He doesn't have any post in local Awami League. A businessman by profession, Hamid Kamal hails from village Monoharpur under Adra union in Barura upazila.

Asked why became the candidate in the election though there was a clear directive that the ministers' relatives would not take part in the polls, Hamid Kamal said, "My brother-in-law is an MP from Dhaka-12 constituency. He is Home Minister. I have never done any excess introducing myself as the minister's relative. Though I exercise Awami League politics, I could buy the posts of Awami League in Dhaka if I wished."

He further said, "I have no position in the party. So, I am going to contest at my own. It is not supposed to create any problem."

On the other hand, former finance minister AHM Mostofa Kamal MP's (Cumilla-10) constituency (Sadar South, Lalmai and Nangolkot) younger brother Golam Sarwar submitted nomination paper for contesting the Sadar South Upazila Parishad election. He was elected upazila chairman from this upazila for three consecutive periods -- in 2009, 2014 and 2019. He is the vice-president of South District Awami League and also the Upazila Awami League president.

Contacted, Golam Sarwar said the party leaders and workers put pressure on him to take part in the election. "Besides, voters will give their verdict regarding what I have done over the last 15 years. I have been working on the election field over the last several months. Now, it will not be possible to leave the election field."