State Minister Palak asks brother-in-law Rubel to withdraw candidature

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has directed his brother-in-law Lutful Habib Rubel to withdraw his candidature from the forthcoming Natore's Singra upazila parishad election for assaulting a rival chairman candidate after his abduction.

Besides, Singra Upazila Awami League show-caused Rubel on charge of breaking the party discipline on Friday (April 19), four days after the incident.

Singra Upazila Awami League general secretary and municipal mayor Jannatul Ferdous confirmed it.
The show-cause notice states that different mass media published reports on barring Delwar Hossain Pasha, a chairman candidate in the ensuing upazila election, in submitting his nomination paper, assaulting him and abducting him from in front of the district election office on April 15 last. "Your involvement was learnt from the confessional statement made by arrested accused Sumon under Section 164 which was contrary to the party discipline. In such a situation, you have been asked to explain in written within the next three days why disciplinary steps will not be taken against you."

Regarding the matter, Singra Upazila Awami League general secretary Jannatul Ferdous said, "While returning after visiting the injured chairman candidate Delwar Hossain at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital today (Friday), the state minister phoned Lutful Habib Rubel to withdraw his candidature. At that time, Singra Upazila Awami League president Ohidur Rahman and other leaders were present. Besides, a showcause notice along with the directives from the state minister was sent to Lutful Habib Rubel on Friday afternoon."

She said a written notice would be serve on Rubel asking him to withdraw his candidature after an extended meeting of the Singra Upazila Awami League on Saturday. Organisational steps would be taken against him if he tries to take part in election violating the party directives. If necessary, he would be expelled from the party.

State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, "We want to create an example for the entire country so that none can avail any illegal benefits in Singra using my name in future, can't sell the party, and inflict torture on common people. No miscreant will be allowed on the soil of Singra."

Earlier on Monday, followers of Lutful Habib Rubel physically assaulted and abducted Singra upazila election chairman candidate Delwar Hossain in front of Natore District Election Office. Later, he was recovered in a very critical condition from a village in Singra upazila and admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Later, the victim's elder brother Mojibur Rahman filed a case at local police station over the incident and police arrested two people. They later submitted confessional statement to court. In their statements, the accused said they abducted chairman candidate Delwar Hossain at the directive of Singra Upazila Awami League's joint secretary Principal Lutful Habib Rubel who is a brother-in-law of State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak.