Farid Uddin's alliance nomination has become uncertain as BNP leader and prime minister's political secretary Haris Chowdhury is vying for ticket for the constituency (Zakiganj and Kanaighat upazilas), political circles said.

However, Farid Uddin claimed that there is no reason to 'drop' him, since the alliance is still in force.

"Moreover, this is the only Jamaat seat in Sylhet region. I think Haris will not vie for nomination", Farid Uddin said while talking to this correspondent. He declined to comment any more.

Jamaat leaders here said if Farid is dropped, there will be a big crisis between the Jamaat and BNP in Sylhet as this will also affect other constituencies in the region.

But political circles and local BNP leaders claim that Haris Chowdhury's nomination in the Jatiya Sangsad seat is almost certain after Friday's foundation laying of a bridge over Surma river at the Kanaighat upazila headquarters by him, followed by a big public meeting.

But Haris was tactical, not to make any public announcement about nomination at the meeting.

"Things will be decided by the party high command. I will place your demand (for my nomination) at appropriate level", he later told his followers.

Farid Uddin also addressed the rally briefly at the beginning and left the venue before it ended.

The Tk 52 crore bridge is a long-felt demand of local people.

Other BNP leaders at the rally publicly demanded nomination

for Haris for 'development in the region', alleging that the Jamaat lawmaker did nothing for the area and sidelined BNP workers in all activities.

They said BNP has strong bases in the constituency and party men were elected in most of the union parishads in last UP elections. It also swept the recent Zakiganj pourashava elections.

Jamaat is also trying to consolidate its position, allegedly with the backing of BNP stalwart and finance minister Saifur Rahman.

"Saifur always favours Farid Uddin", a local BNP leader said seeking anonymity.

Rift among the coalition partners is widening in the area as other component parties including Isami Oikya Jote (IJO) are also in the field with their prospective candidates.

Possibility of Ershad's joining the alliance has also posed a big challenge to coalition partners in the constituency, where Jatiya Party's Shabbir Ahmed is the possible candidate, according to JP sources.

Political observers said, besides Haris, Jamaat will have another big hurdle--Moulana Abdul Latif Chowdhury Fultali, chief of Al-Islah, a religious forum in greater Sylhet.

Abdul Latif, with a large number of followers, had supported the alliance candidate in last election. It may be a different scene in the coming election as difference between Abdul Latif and Jamaat has widened over Islamic issues, they said.

Awami League's Hafiz Ahmed Majumder defeated Jamaat's Moulana Farid Chowdhury in 1996 election but was defeated by the Jamaat man in 2001. Although Majumder is widely accepted by the masses for his efforts in spreading education, internal feud in Awami League is his main problem. Internal feud has taken a serious shape in the party in both the upazilas, AL sources said.