Both JSD factions adamant on ‘torch’ symbol

UNB, Dhaka :Both belligerent factions of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod), seeking ‘torch’ as their symbol, have hoped that theCommission would take the right decision to determine ‘actual leadership’ of the left-leaning party.Leaders of the two factions expressed the hope after joining the Commission’s hearing separately at the EC Secretariat on Wednesday. A seven-member delegation of the afaction, led by its president Hasanul Haq Inu, joined the hearing from 11am to 12:40pm, while a nine-member team of the other faction, led by its president Sharif Nurul Ambia, took part in the hearing from 3pm to 4:10pm.The hearings were held at the EC Conference Room with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad in the chair. Three election commissioners-Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Zabed Ali and Md Shah Nawaz — were present. The Jasod got split in its last national council on March 12 when a faction stood against Inu’s bid to make Shirin Akhter party general secretary.The rebel faction named Sharif Nurul Ambia and Nazmul Haque Prodhan, MP, as its president and general secretary respectively. It also made Moinuddin Khan Badal its executive president.Both the groups now claim themselves as the ‘main’ party and have fielded chairman contenders for the UP polls seeking Jasod’s ‘torch’ as its symbol. After hearing, Inu hoped that the Election Commission will take the ‘right’ decision about the actual leadership of Jasod.”I’ve the full faith in the EC, and I hope it’ll do justice,” said Inu while talking to reporters at EC Secretariat.”We’ve submitted our papers and documents of our council to the EC on Tuesday and we’ve replied to EC’s every question during the hearing,” he said. Shirin Akhter, MP, and Zikrul Ahmed were, among others, in the Inu-led delegation.