Upazila polls: Helal Uddin, scion of a political family, vying for chairman

Md. Heleal Uddin from a family imbued with Awami League political ideology is contesting as one of the aspirants for chairman from Brahmanbaria's Sadar upazila in the upcoming upazila parishad election to be held on June 5.

Helal Uddin, a vice president of Brahmanbaria district Awami League, is the younger brother of dynamic student leader Abdul Quddus Makhan who was one of four student leaders to move Chhatral League in right direction on the eve of Independence War and after Bangladesh became liberated. Most of his brothers bravely fought against the Pakistani occupation forces during the War of Liberation.

His family members were in close touch with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and they believe Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is their political guardian. Under these circumstances, Helal Uddin seeks all out cooperation from people.

Talking to The Asian Age, Helal Uddin said he is associated with the political ideology of Awami League from his student life. In the political journey, he faced challenges and adverse situations. During his days at Dhaka University, he had to suffer two years imprisonment and untold police tortures. In addition, he had to face two months imprisonment in Brahmanbaria for the role against military ruler General Ershad in 1986. In the period of caretaker government backed by army in 2007, he was arrested, imprisoned and tortured. For the dedication for AL politics as well as the impetus to the party and party activists look very unprecedented and praiseworthy.

Helal Uddin passed SSC from Dhaka Residential Model School, HSC from Government Titumir College, and B A (Hons), M A from Dhaka University. During his study in Titumir College, he became organizing secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), his student life under Dhaka University, he became BCL Joint Secretary at Sergeant Jahurul Hoque wing, later he became central member of BCL working committee headed by Mannan-Nanak and was Assistant Secretary of BCL headed by Sultan-Abdur Rahman. After completing student life, Helal Uddin belongs to Awami League local politics in 1985. In local political career he was Jubo League Cultural Secretary and Senior Vice President. He became District AL Publicity Secretary, Organizing Secretary and two times Vice President.

Brahmanbariaupazila proper polls will hold on June 5. This upazila consists of 11 union councils, together with 4 aspirants as chairmen candidates and vice chairmen. In addition, 7 candidates for the post of vice chairman and 4 candidates for the post of female vice chairman have submitted their nomination papers in SadarUpazilaParishad.

Md. Helal Uddin said from the very beginning Housing and Public Works Minister R A M ObaidulMuktadir Chowdhury has ensured the contesting chairman candidates to hold free, fair and neutral election. The candidate, who is capable and more popular to maximum voters, will be winner through credible vote to be held on June 5. Brahmanbaria District Election Officer Md. Sadekul Islam told The Asian Age that the immediate past phases of upzila elections were held in free, fair and neutral manner.

BFUJ Brahmanbaria Unit President Dipak Chowdhury Bappi told The Asian Age that a hard contest between Helal Uddin and District Chhatra League General Secretary Shadat Hossain Shovon will be held in Sadar upazila election.