Ruling Awami League (AL) wants to retain their representation of Jhenidah-2 constituency, while opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) wants to regain the seat, after losing it in the last Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls.
The seat consisting of Jhenaidah Sadar and Harinakundu upazilas has two municipalities and 21 unions. A total of 423,455 voters including 212,351 women will exercise their right to franchise in the next JS polls to be held in January 2023.
Eminent journalist and former minister Anwar Zahid was elected member of parliament (MP) from the constituency in 1986 as a Jatiya Party (JP) candidate. BNP candidate Mashiur Rahman won the seat in 1991, twice (February 15 and June 2) in 1996 and again in 2001. But AL candidate Shafiqul Islam Apu won the seat in 2008. AL ‘rebel’ candidate Tahjib Alam Siddiquee alias Somi won the seat as independent candidate in 2014. Somi once again won the seat as the AL candidate with the symbol ‘boat’ in 2018.
Tahjib Alam Siddiquee is expected to fight in the seat as the ruling party candidate. He is the son of recently expired Nur E Alam Siddiquee, one of the organizers of Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. A former president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Nur E Alam Siddiquee was elected lawmaker from the seat in 1973. Incumbent lawmaker Tahjib Alam Siddiquee Somi is also hopeful to get the nomination from AL this year.
AL Jhenaidah district unit general secretary and ex mayor of Jhenaidah municipality Saidul Karim Mintu is one of the most powerful candidates in the area. He is a leader of organized activists consisting party men and some committed associates.
According to his followers, close associates and locals, Mintu had spent most of his time to stand by the people in his municipality and surrounding areas ignoring risk when the whole nation was affected and panicked by global havoc coronavirus.
“I will dedicate myself for building the Smart Bangladesh as desired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. I will work to free Jhenaidah town from all sorts of crime and bring down child marriage incidents to zero. In the meantime, I have established a school and college in the town,” Saidul Karim Mintu said.
Former lawmaker of the constitution Shafiqul Islam Apu will seek nomination for the seat in the next polls. He has a strong group of supporters and activists in the area. Known as an honest and outspoken young man, Apu was elected MP for the first time in 2008 in the ninth JS polls.
“I will take initiative for constructing railway line and a medical college in Jhenaidah if I am elected with the boat symbol. I will give new shape to the dilapidated educational institutions and other establishments,” Apu said.
AL leader industrialist Naser Sharier Zahedi alias Mohul is one of the talked about candidates for Jhenaidah-2 seat with ‘boat’ symbol for the 2023 JS polls. He is the managing director of reputable pharmaceutical industry Radiant Pharmaceuticals. He with his voluntary organization Zahedi Foundation is running a number of charitable units throughout the district. He ensured employment of hundreds of young men and women. His younger brother Qayum Shahrier Zahedi was elected Jhenaidah municipality mayor in the last polls with huge votes against the boat symbol candidate.
Advocate Abdul Mazid took the steering of the opposition BNP in the area when its former lawmaker Mashiur Rahman, also an advisor to the BNP Chairperson Begum Khaled Zia, died a few months ago.
“I am ready to fight if the election is held under the caretaker government in a peaceful environment. If elected, he will give importance in agriculture, education, health sectors and rural infrastructures development,” Abdul Mazid said.
Some BNP activists say that Dr Ibrahim Rahman Babu, son of former lawmaker Mashiur Rahman, might fight from his father’s seat. Mashiur won the seat for four consecutive terms and contributed to huge development work in the district.
BNP central committee member Mir Rabiul Islam Lablu is also talked about as a prospective candidate here. He often comes to visit Jhenaidah Sadar and Harinakundu from his Dhaka residence.
A section of people belonging to JP (Ershad), vice president and central committee member Major Mahfuzur Rahman (retired) said he will seek nomination from the party for the next JS polls. He is conducting campaigns.
Although Jhenaidah-2, especially, Harinakundu upazila is well known as the strong outpost of the Jamaat E Islami and BNP, the Jamaat leaders are not showing up. If AL can resolve the crisis of intra-party conflict and other internal issues, they will have to face the BNP only, locals and concerned people said.
