Eng. Abdul Halim deserves Tangail-4 (Kalihati) seat

BNP has initially announced candidates for seven out of eight seats in Tangail. Except for one or two of these seats, those deprived of nominations are holding protest marches and rallies every day in most of the seats. Clashes are also occurring. Especially after the release of former Awami League leader Latif Siddiqui, the picture of Tangail-4 Kalihati constituency has changed. However, for unknown reasons, no candidate has been announced for Tangail-5 Sadar constituency.

After going to Kalihati on the spot and talking to the leaders and activists of the BNP Trinamool, it was learned that the primary nomination of BNP has been given to Lutfar Rahman Matin. There have been mixed reactions since his nomination. The reason is that he withdrew himself from BNP during the last 15 and a half years of Awami League. In 2016, he publicly announced that he would stay away from participating in BNP meetings and rallies. He did not keep in touch with the leaders and activists at all. Lutfar Rahman Matin turned his back on BNP quite publicly.

It doesn't end here, he broke ties with BNP and developed close ties with Awami League. There are also serious allegations that he celebrated Sheikh Mujib's death anniversary and Sheikh Hasina's birthday. Moreover, social media has spread pictures and videos of Matin in close contact with Awami League leaders and activists, including Awami League presidium member and former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, at various events. For these reasons, BNP grassroots leaders and activists are unable to accept his nomination.

Talking to the common people of Kalihati and several BNP leaders and activists, it has been learned that former minister Latif Siddiqui has a large vote bank in this constituency. He defeated the boat candidate by a huge margin in the 2024 election. If he is a candidate in the upcoming national elections, a large part of the Awami League votes will go in his favor. In this situation, it will be difficult for BNP candidate Matin to win. Trinamool leaders and activists claim that he was nominated without investigating the allegations against Matin. They have sought the intervention of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

Meanwhile, BNP's Dhaka divisional co-organizing secretary Benazir Ahmed Titu has been deprived of the party's nomination. After that, he is showing off. The leaders and activists allege that he has installed opportunistic leaders instead of the abandoned and persecuted leaders and activists of Kalihati. Titu has also given benefits to Awami League leaders and activists in exchange for money. As a result, all the nomination hopefuls have taken a stand against him. With the top leaders in such a position, Titu's position in the field has become shaky. Moreover, after August 5, allegations of taking control of various Balu Mahals, including encroachment and extortion, have been raised against his followers. This has led to widespread criticism. For these reasons, the party high command has not given him a nomination either - people say.

In this situation, a deadlock has been created in the Kalihati constituency. There has been a demand to nominate freedom fighter Engineer Abdul Halim Mia to get out of this situation and regain the seat.

Some freedom fighters of Kalihati said that many of those who took up arms to snatch the red sun of independence have been lost in the stream of time. But Md. Abdul Halim Miah is not just a freedom fighter, he is a political fighter. He is well known in the area as 'Halim Engineer'. Everyone calls him and knows him as Halim Engineer.

He is widely known in Kalihati as an honest and clean image leader. Halim Mia was nominated by BNP in the 2018 elections. But due to the party's interest, he withdrew from the election due to the lack of unity on the instructions of the high command.

For the past 17 years of the fascist Awami League, he has kept the leaders and activists of Kalihati united, ignoring the bloodthirsty eyes of the law enforcement forces. He has carried out the party's central program in the area. He has stood by the grassroots leaders and activists and the deprived and oppressed leaders and activists in Kalihati. When the leaders and activists could not take to the streets in Dhaka, he would still go to the mausoleum of Shaheed Zia under the banner of the freedom fighter to pay homage on the occasion of the central program.

From organizer of the Liberation War to active participation in the war

Engineer Halim's political career began during his student days. When the war of independence began in 1971, he served as a police station-level organizer and freedom fighter recruitment coordinator. Not only as an organizer, he also directly participated in the war. He fought for the country's independence with arms and left a mark of heroism.

His 100% devotion to the party and his steadfast march on the streets in the movement have made him known to everyone.

He officially joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Freedom Fighters' Party on July 2, 2012. Since then, he has actively participated in all the BNP's movements and struggles on the streets. Nothing, including disappearances, arrests and harassment, could deter him. He has remained on the streets during difficult times, leading processions and rallies with courage.

Standing by the party's leaders and workers in difficult times was not his duty, but love. During any campaign program of the party, he has personally handed over BNP party leaflets to the common people. He has been seen talking to the people in the markets, markets or alleys of neighborhoods, delivering the party's message. In the implementation of Tarique Rahman's 31-point plan, he is distributing leaflets and going door-to-door to deliver speeches.

A unique example of sacrifice despite being nominated in the 11th National Parliament election

In recognition of his loyalty and popularity towards the party, he received the primary nomination of BNP from Tangail-4 (Kalihati) constituency in the 11th National Parliament election. However, in the larger interest of the party and as part of the strategy of the Oikyafront, he withdrew his nomination and left the seat for the partner party. His sacrificial decision is still respected by the leaders and activists today.

Trinamool leaders and activists expressed their hope that National Leader Begum Khaleda Zia and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will nominate Engineer Md. Abdul Halim in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Multidimensionality in leadership and active role in the organization

Engineer Halim has been serving as the chief advisor of the Engineering Workers Union, Van Workers Union, Rickshaw Workers Union, Hawker Association and Baul Artist Association for a long time. In addition, he is the vice-president of the central executive committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Freedom Fighters Party. President of Dhaka Metropolitan City, vice-president of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh and a life member of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation. Engineer Halim is an activist inspired by the ideals of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

Engineer Abdul Halim Mia's close friends said that he has been following the party's central agenda to keep the BNP united in his area. He has even been a regular speaker at the central agendas in Dhaka. Due to his position as the vice-president of the central committee of the Nationalist Freedom Fighters' Party, Halim Mia has participated in the agenda in Dhaka despite various obstacles and oppression by the fascist Awami League government for the last 15 years. During difficult times, when it was almost impossible to go to the grave of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, he used to go with the freedom fighters to lay wreaths.

Humanitarian work that made history in public service during the Corona period

When the pandemic was at its peak, when people were unemployed, when food was a golden deer in the market—then Halim Engineer rushed to every village in every union of Kalihati Upazila. Kokdahara, Gohaliabari, Dashkia, Durgapur, Nagbari, Narandia, Paikra, Sahadevpur, Elenga, Salla, Bangra—he personally delivered food items to the people of all these unions.

The food packets he distributed were not just rice and pulses, but also a ray of hope. His humanitarian contribution is etched in the hearts of the people of every village in local Elenga and Kalihati. That is why Engineer Md. Abdul Halim has become a leader of the people.

Tireless efforts to develop educational and religious institutions

With his help, several primary and secondary schools, colleges, mosques, temples and madrasas have been established in various unions of Kalihati. Not only institutions, but in many places he has made exemplary contributions to the spread of education by constructing buildings with his own money and providing scholarships to students. Today, the silent contribution of this brave engineer is behind the educational lives of many young people.

Student politics is proof of leadership

While studying at Rajshahi Engineering College, he was elected GS of Abdul Hamid Hostel. Later, he also contested the election for the post of GS of the college student parliament. That leadership quality of his student life has made him a complete political leader today. People are showering praise on him, he has given food to the people with his own hands during the Corona pandemic. People like him are very much needed in politics. His popularity is also high among the young generation. The young people also see him as a symbol of courage and trust. If he gets the nomination from BNP, the young people will happily work for him in the field, numerous young people have expressed their opinion to this reporter.

A symbol of trust between the party and the people

For those who consider ideals, sacrifice and humanity as the best qualities in BNP politics, Halim Engineer is a living legend. He is as skilled in performing party duties as he is in standing by his workers in times of trouble. From Kalihati Elenga to national-level leadership, his acceptance is now widespread.

While doing BNP politics, his family has often been threatened in various ways. Family members have suffered greatly. Despite this, he has remained steadfast and confident in the party.

BNP leaders said he was not just a heroic freedom fighter - he was a courageous organizer, a selfless political leader, a humanitarian social worker and a symbol of trust. He worked tirelessly for the people throughout his life.

In this regard, Engineer Abdul Halim said, "The party nominated me in 2018 after considering me worthy. Later, I withdrew from the election due to the Oikyafront candidate. As far as I know, not a single freedom fighter was nominated by BNP in the upcoming national elections. I have kept the freedom fighters united by being the senior vice-president of the central committee of the Nationalist Freedom Fighters' Party. Since BNP is a freedom fighter's party, I am confident that the party will nominate me at the final stage."

Engineer Halim Mia has sought the intervention of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in this matter.