Tangail Correspondent: Two BNP-nominated candidates for key constituencies in Tangail collected their nomination papers together on Sunday ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. BNP Vice Chairman and party-nominated candidate for Tangail-2 (Gopalpur–Bhuapur) constituency, Abdus Salam Pintu, and his younger brother Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, BNP nominee for Tangail-5 (Sadar) constituency, collected their respective nomination papers at around 1:00 pm from the office of the Tangail District Election Officer. Several senior BNP leaders were present at the time, including Tangail district BNP President Md Hasanuzzamil Shaheen, former presidents of district Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal Ahmedul Haque Shatil, former district BNP Member Secretary Mahmudul Haque Sanu, former Jubo Dal convener Kazi Shafiqul Rahman Liton, Sadar Upazila BNP President Md Azgar Ali, and district Jubo Dal convener Khandaker Rashedul Alam Rashed. After collecting the nomination papers, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku told journalists that they had followed the electoral code of conduct in the process. He said he would try his utmost to fulfill the responsibility entrusted to him by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. “I want to unite the people of Tangail Sadar and work for the development of the area. Insha’Allah, I aim to build a safe Tangail free from terrorism, extortion, juvenile gangs and drugs. I seek everyone’s prayers to move forward together with harmony and mutual respect,” he added.
It may be mentioned that Abdus Salam Pintu, founding General Secretary of Tangail district BNP, was elected Member of Parliament from Tangail-2 constituency in the 1991, 1996 and 2001 national elections. He served as State Minister for Education in 2001 and later as State Minister for Industries from 2003 to 2006. Currently, he is serving as a Vice Chairman of BNP. During the Awami League government’s tenure, he spent about 17 years in prison. Meanwhile, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku is contesting the parliamentary election from Tangail-5 constituency for the first time after receiving BNP nomination. He has long experience in student and youth politics, having served as President of both Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal. He is currently the Publicity Secretary of BNP’s central committee. According to party sources, during the Awami League government’s rule, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku faced around 350 harassment cases and was imprisoned 12 times. He reportedly spent nearly five years in jail and was on remand for a continuous period of 46 days.
