Wife seeks votes for jailed husband in Ctg city polls

Nusrat Jahan, wife of councilor candidate Abdul Kader, has been campaigning for the past two days for her jailed husband to win the Chattogram City Corporation election.

She along with activists and supporters of her husband is going door to door to convince voters to help win him in the election battle.

Abdul Kader was arrested on 13 January following the killing of an Awami League (AL) activist in a clash between supporters of him and AL-backed councilor candidate Nazrul Islam Bahadur in Pathantuli ward on 12 January.  The environment of the election in the area has been changing since then. 

Awami League's rebel candidate Kader is currently in Chattogram Central Jail. But, he had a bold position in the campaign even 10 days ago. At present, his activists and supporters fled the area in fear of arrest. In this circumstance, Kader's participation in the election has become uncertain.

Kader was elected as councilor in the CCC election in 2015. He, an accused in 28 cases, is a listed criminal. 

When the Awami League came to power for the second term, four cases against him were withdrawn on political ground. 

He was also acquitted of the remaining 23 cases filed under arms act, kidnapping, murder and extortion as witnesses did not testify against him fearing of his power. 

Another case, in which he was awarded 10 years' jail, is now under trial in the High Court, said sources. 

Abdul Kader is known as a follower of Chattogram City Awami League General Secretary and former city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin.

Kader's wife Nusrat had a mass rally on behalf of her husband in the Pora Mosque area of Pathantuli ward on Friday, for the second day in a row. On Thursday, she started campaigning for her husband.

Nusrat told The Business Standard that her husband's popularity had not declined even though he was in jail.

"My husband is a victim of conspiracy. He had no connection at all with the incident in which he was thrown to jail. On the day of the incident, he was doing a mass campaign in another area. The opponents planned the murder out of jealousy of his popularity. Everything is clear to the voters," she claimed. 

After this incident, my husband's popularity has increased, which will be proved on 27 January, the voting day in the election, she added.  

Meanwhile, Kader's wife Nusrat further said she started campaigning for her husband with the permission of the administration. She expressed her determination to stay in the field till the end of the election.

Ramiz Uddin, a businessman and voter from the Mogaltuli area, said there was tension between the two candidates when the campaign started. Currently, the situation there is better than before, he added. 

"We are hopeful about a non-violent election. We also hope the situation will remain the same even after the election," he said.

Meanwhile, Kader's absence in the campaign gives extra benefits to AL candidate Nazrul. The three-time elected former councilor said, "Pathantuli dwellers do not want crime, extortion. They will prove it through voting. As we have to follow the discipline of the party in politics, there is no alternative for the party workers to work in unity."

Double Mooring Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mohsin told TBS that the law and order situation in Pathantuli ward is much better than before. Police has increased its surveillance in the area, he added.