Jatiya Party Chairman and Rangpur-4 Grand Alliance candidate HM Ershad’s election campaign has almost come to a halt due to “shortage of funds,” said party sources.
Leaders of JP’s Rangpur unit said that the local party activists were dismayed as the polls campaigns are almost at a standstill after only two days.
Meanwhile the former military dictator is still in Singapore for treatment and has been unable to take part in any polls activity in his constituency.
In his absence, Rangpur City Corporation Mayor and JP’s Rangpur unit President Mostafizur Rahman and General Secretary SM Yeasir led the polls campaign for two days, where the party activists asked for votes while distributing leaflets.
However, there was no sign of Ershad’s campaign in almost 25 wards and three unions. In fact, posters were not hung in a few areas.
“We are unable to continue the polls campaign due to scarcity of funds,” JP leader SM Yeasir said.
“Ershad used to take care of these things before but since he is not here we are in troubled waters. He has been informed of the matter,” he added.
On the other hand, Awami League (AL) activists and leaders of Rangpur-3 are almost idle given that there are no ruling party candidates in Rangpur-3 and Ershad, the special envoy to the prime minister is the Grand Alliance’s sole pick for the constituency.
“We also want Ershad to win, but we are yet to receive any response from JP leaders,” AL’s Rangpur unit General Secretary Tushar Kanti Mandal.
“We are still campaigning for him and want to participate in full swing,” he added.
Meanwhile, JP’s Yeasir said that Ershad and the party’s Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga will soon provide a solution.
He added that they have also reached out to AL and its various front leaders and the matter will be solved in a couple of days.