Rahgir Alam Mahir (Saad Ershad) has collected a Jatiya Party (JP) nomination form to contest the Rangpur-3 by-polls scheduled to be held on Oct 5.

Saad, the son of deceased military dictator HM Ershad collected the nomination form from the JP chief’s offices in Banani on Tuesday (Sept 3).

The Rangpur-3 seat fell vacant after its lawmaker, and JP founding Chairman HM Ershad died on Jul 14.

The former military dictator had won all elections he took part in from this seat since in 1991.

“In addition to creating sufficient job opportunities for the citizens of Rangpur, I want to turn it into a modern city,” Saad told the media after collecting the form.

“I entered politics to serve the people and to complete my father’s unfinished task,” he added.

Responding to queries on conflicts regarding the leadership of the party, he said, “I don’t think there are any conflicts within the party.”

Previously JP Presidium member SM Fakhr-uz-Zaman Jagangir, Ershad’s niece Mehjebunnesa Tumpa and JP’s Rangpur Unit General Secretary SM Yasir collected nomination forms for Rangpur-3.

The by-polls are scheduled for Oct 5 with the last date to submit nominations being Sept 9 and scrutiny on Sept 11. The last day to drop out of the race is Sept 16.

Meanwhile, conflicts seem to be rife amongst the Ershad family regarding the upcoming by-polls.

On Sept 2, Bangla Tribune’s Rangpur Correspondent reported that an effigy of Saad Ershad was set on fire at Rangpur Sadar Upazila’s Palichara Bazar which sparked a clash between two groups of local JP activists.

JP Rangpur Sadar Upazila unit member secretary Masudur Rahman alleged that Ershad’s own nephew Hossain Maqbul Shahriar Asif’s supporters set fire to the effigy.