Jatiya Sangsad speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Sunday said that she
had to drop the plan to contest the tenth national elections as the
ruling Awami League wanted to keep the office of the speaker above
controversy.
‘I had planned to contest the polls and a form was collected for me for
party nomination for Noakhali 1 parliamentary constituency, but the
party high command wanted to keep the office of the speaker above any
controversy,’ Shirin told New Age at her office.
A lawmaker elected from one of the seats reserved for women, Shirin took oath as the speaker on April 30.
‘Taking oath, the speaker had wanted to avoid reception from local
people of Noakhali 1 constituency, but the top party leaders had asked
her to attend the receptions to continue close contact with the people
of the constituency for contesting the parliamentary polls,’ said
Noakhali’s Sonaimuri upazila chairman AFM Babul.
He said that being instructed, he had bought the party nomination form for Shirin, but three days
ago they came to know that the party high command asked her not to contest the polls.
KM Ibrahim got the AL ticket from the Noakhali -1 constituency (Sonaimur
and Chatkhil upazilas) according to list declared by Awami League
secretary general Syed Ashraful Islam on Friday.
The tenure of the ninth parliament will expire on January 24, 2014 and
the election to the tenth parliament is scheduled for January 5. (source)