Rashidul Hasan from Chatkhil, Noakhali
Despite today’s polls in Noakhali-1 constituency, all seemed quiet yesterday in Noakhola village of Chatkhil upazila, the birthplace of late Nurul Islam, a candidate of grand alliance for the constituency for the December 29 polls whose mysterious death led to the deferment of the polls.
While visiting the village, there was no enthusiasm among the peoples’ mind for the today’s elections rather found much depressed and reluctant to the polls.
Octogenarian Sultan Ara Begum, sister-in-law of Nurul Islam, at her quiet home in the village said she won’t go to the polling centre to encourage the “killers” of Nurul Islam.
“They have killed my brother. Whom would I case vote?” said Sultan Ara. She said: “We were in-laws but the reality was we were more than siblings as he grew up with me. How could they kill my brother?’ she said in tearful eyes. ‘I will not let any of my sons or grandsons to cast vote.”
“We have nothing to celebrate. Had Nurul ‘bhai’ been amongst us, we would surely get a minister at least,” said Arshad, a neighbour of Nurul Islam.
Ahsanullah, a shop owner, got emotionally choked recalling Nurul Islam’s honesty.
‘In 1991 elections, he (Nurul Islam) was a candidate and I was enumerated at two places and had an eagerness to cast vote at both places. But this could not be happened as Nurul ‘bhai’ saw me at another polling booth and said “what are you doing here? I don’t need any fake vote,” Ahsanullah also recalled.
The villagers, encircling the reporters, in chorus said they consider Nurul’s death as “cool-headed murder” and demanded proper investigation and exemplary punishment to the killers.
Of them, one contacted Nurul’s widow Ruby Rahman and handed the phone set to a reporter.
Ruby rejected the investigation into the Nurul’s death and termed it a farcical one. “We expect that the government would ensure proper investigation into the killing.”
Nurul’s nephew Khorshed Alam Babul alleged that his uncle was killed following a conflict over the nomination process of Awami League-led grand alliance for the constituency.
“The villagers will go to the polling booths, perhaps will cast their votes. But there is no festivity among voters,” said Babul also a member of Chatkhil unit Awami League.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
