Staff Reporter:

Rakibul Karim Khan Pappu, also an industrialist in Dhaka is now at the top of BNP’s nomination race for Sirajganj-3 constituency due to his clean political image and popularity, locals said.

He lends his legs in the political arena being inspired by his father during the student life.

Since then, he has been actively working for the BNP and participating in various programmes to proof him as a reliable leader of the party.

He has played an important role in different movements including July-August uprising against the fascist Awami League government.

Moreover, Pappu established himself as a trusted and worker-friendly leader by providing various types of support to the poor and party men during troubles in the past, many said.

Locals said that, Pappu is at the top of popularity among the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) candidates for the Sirajganj-3 (Tarash-Raiganj) constituency in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Through active participation in politics, he has been playing a vital role in the development of various institutions including schools, colleges and madrasas in the area and working tirelessly to help the common people to get relief from their plights.

Although many nomination aspirants in Sirajganj-3 (Tarash-Raiganj) constituency got involved in various controversial activities after August 5, the people-friendly leader Pappu is performing his duties by coordinating with all levels of leaders and workers of the district and central BNP.

Consequently, the support of the voters of Tarash and Raiganj and also general public towards him is increasing day by day.

Many opined that, Puppu is still at the top among the BNP nomination seekers for Sirajganj-3 constituency as a leader with clean image.

The name of former general secretary of Raiganj Upazila BNP VP Aynul Haque, late BNP leader former MP Abdul Mannan Talukder’s son Rahid Mannan Lelin, district BNP advisor Kamal Hossain and Selim Jahangir among others are also being heard as the probable nomination seekers for Sirajganj-3 constituency.

But, many of them are accused of getting involved in various controversial activities including bribery and taking advantages from different Awami League leaders and workers after August 5 that tarnishes image of the party.

Due to such allegations, many of them have received condolence messages and even show-cause notices from the party high-ups various times. Many have also been warned and suspended from the party activities. Among some notable incidents, it is mentionable that, VP Aynul Haque was suspended from the party for three months due to assisting Awami League Chairman Abdul Hannan Khan to sit in the Union Parishad. Along with this, show cause notice was also issued over the controversial slogans given during the procession of Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.

Show cause notices were also served to two other nomination seekers-Rahid Mannan Lelin and Kamal Hossain for various controversial activities.

On the other hand, there are numerous allegations against Selim Jahangir.

Rajib Ahmed Masum, convener of Tarash Upazila Jubo Dal, said, “For a long time, Rakibul Karim Khan Pappu has been working for various developments in Raiganj and Tarash upazila. He is the only person with a clean image. Apart from his political identity, he is a good person. We believe that, he is the only worthy candidate for BNP in Sirajganj-3 constituency. If he gets ticket of BNP and elected as a member of parliament, there will be massive development in the area in future.”

Obaidul Khan Paris, General Secretary of Raiganj Upazila Jubo Dal, said that, “The people of Raiganj and Tarash Upazilas believe that if a people-friendly leader like Pappu is elected as a member of parliament, the fate of people will change and the image of the area will improve. At the same time, the general public believes that, there will be extensive development in the Chalan Beel-dominated area. Therefore, it is believed that, he is the only eligible and capable candidate of BNP for Sirajganj-3 (Raiganj-Tarash) constituency.”

Rakibul Karim Khan Pappu told ‘The Daily Sky’, “I have been working for the party standing by the leaders and activists for a long time. I have stood by the party’s men during their difficult times by providing various supports. I have refrained from such activities that damage the party’s image and reputation. There is no defamation or complaint against me. So, people love me a lot. I have been working at the field level to deliver the 31-point programmes announced by the BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to the doorsteps of people. If the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia trust and nominate me for the Sirajganj-3 (Tardash-Raiganj) constituency in the upcoming national polls, then I will risk my life to improve the fate of the people after being elected. Also, as a businessman, I will build factories in Raiganj and Tarash to solve the unemployment problem and provide self-employment to the people. I hope that, the people will elect me with a large number of votes, if I get the BNP ticket.”