The Rangpur 3 electoral campaign of Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad is close to being shut down, apparently due to lack of funds.
Party leaders are unable to conduct campaign events, creating a wave of disappointment among grassroots leaders and activists, top-level officials of JaPa’s Rangpur metropolitan unit told this reporter.
According to party sources, the complete absence of Ershad – currently in Singapore for treatment – from the constituency in Rangpur has left the campaigning for the Grand Alliance in shambles.
Mostafizar Rahman, Rangpur city mayor and JaPa metropolitan unit president, has been trying to run a frugal campaign with limited resources. But despite his efforts, Ershad’s campaign is all but absent from 25 of the city’s wards and three unions. In some areas, not even a poster of the senior leader can be seen.
As Ershad is the sole Grand Alliance candidate for Rangpur 3, Awami League leaders and activists are also spending their days idly.
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Rangpur metropolitan unit Awami League General Secretary Tushar Kanti Mondol said: “As JaPa is yet to take any real initiative in this regard, we have been quiet. However, we intend to campaign for Ershad as a Grand Alliance candidate sometime soon.
“Before, Ershad used to campaign for himself, but his failing health has kept him away. We have informed him of the lack of funds over the phone,” he added.
Rangpur metropolitan unit JaPa General Secretary SM Yasir admitted to the money crunch, saying: “We have informed Ershad and party secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga about our situation. However, Ranga is busy with his own campaign for the Rangpur 1 constituency.
“Nevertheless, we believe the secretary general will fix the issue soon.”
In response to a question, Yasir said he had spoken to other local leaders of the Grand Alliance, and the matter will be dealt with in two or three days.
The 11th general election will take place on December 30.
