At least seven heavyweight ruling Awami League (AL) leaders are scrambling for the party ticket to contest the next general election from the Chattogram-16 constituency.
Although the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) says that it will not take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections, the party is getting prepared for it secretly and silently.
At least three BNP leaders will seek party nomination to contest the next general election if the party joins the next poll.
On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami has already kept a candidate on standby to contest the next general election.
Besides, Jatiya Party will also field its candidate to contest the next poll from Chattogram-16 constituency.
Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury of the ruling AL has been representing the party in the National Parliament from Chattogram-16 constituency since 2014.
The constituency encompasses Banshkhali upazila.
The constituency was created when, ahead of the 2008 general election, the Election Commission redrew constituency boundaries to reflect population changes revealed by the 2001 Bangladesh census.
The 2008 redistricting added a new seat to Chattogram district, increasing the number of constituencies in the district to 16.
The seat for Sandwip upazila was renumbered from Chattogram-3 to Chattogram-16, and seats 2 through 7 were shuffled around so that the three metropolitan seats (Chattogram-8, 9, and 10) could be split into four (Chattogram-7, 8, 9, and 10).
Ahead of the 2014 general election, the Election Commission renumbered the seat for Sandwip upazila from Chattogram-16 back to Chattogram-3, bumping up by one the suffix of the former constituency of that name and the higher numbered constituencies in the district.
Thus Chattogram-16 covers the area covered in 2008 by Chattogram-15.
The incumbent lawmaker Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury has already expressed his willingness to seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Talking to reporters, Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury claimed he has been working hard to bring smiles on people’s faces of constituency-16 for about 10 years.
“If my leader, the honourable prime minister wants me to continue the development here, I shall be working for the welfare of the people. So, I shall seek party nomination to contest the next general election again,” he added.
But, his (Mustafizur) firearms carrying incident openly while taking part in a procession sparked a controversy again.
Even the leaders of his own party ruling AL have condemned such an act, saying it has tarnished the image of the party.
Meanwhile, the representatives of civic society have termed this as a ‘show of power’.
Apart from the incumbent lawmaker Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury, Banshkhali upazila Chairman and General Secretary of AwamiSwechasebak League (Chattogram South) Chowdhury Mohammad GalibSadley, Chattogram South district Finance Affairs Secretary of AL Mujibur Rahman, Chattogram South district Organising Secretary of AL Mosleh Uddin Monsur and Chattogram South district Labour Affairs Secretary of AL and General Secretary of Banshkhali upazila unit of AL KhorshedAlam will also seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Chowdhury Mohammad GalibSadley told journalists that he would seek a party ticket to contest the next general election from this constituency.
“I have strengthened my party’s organisational activities at every union of this constituency. I’m travelling throughout my constituency frequently. People love me and want to see me as a lawmaker. If Bangabandhu’s daughter nominates me from my constituency, I shall contest the next national poll,” he added.
Besides, AL leaders Abdullah KabirLiton and senior AL leader ABM MokammelHoque are also interested in seeking party nomination to contest the next general election from this constituency.
On the other hand, Zahirul Islam Chowdhury son of former State Minister for Environment and Forests and former President of BNP’s Chittagong South District late Jafrul Islam Chowdhury Alamgir, BNP leader Miskatul Islam Chowdhury Pappa and Kamrul Islam Hossaini, former municipality mayor and BNP’s Chittagong district (south) Joint Secretary will seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Jatiya Party high command may nominate former Chattogram City Corporation Mayor and Jatiya Party Leader Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury to contest the next general election.
“I have been staying with the people of Banshkhali for a long time. I’m doing politics for the betterment of the people of Chattogram city and my constituency as well. If my party gives me a nomination, I shall contest the next election. And I’m hopeful that I will win the seat,” he said.
Although Jamaat-e-Islami was disqualified from contesting elections, its high command asked the local leaders and workers to work together in order to strengthen the party’s organisational activities in the constituency, according to locals.
If the party is allowed to join polls, it will field candidates to contest the next general elections.
In this regard, Banshkhali upazila Jamaat Amir Mawlana Mohammad Zahirul Islam is likely to get a party nomination if Jamaat is allowed to participate in the next poll.
Talking to the media, Mohammad Zahirul Islam said his participation in the next general election depends on the party’s (Jamaat) decision.
“If Jamaat takes part in the next poll, none can defeat the party. And, I’m confident I will win the poll from this constituency,” he added.
Therefore, nomination seekers of AL, BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat have already started passing their hectic days through polls campaigning in the constituency.
They have started shows of strength through meetings and mass contacts.
The nomination seekers have set up big banners and posters at the important points in the constituency, intersections of highways and roads, and on boundary walls.
Containing the images of the candidates of various parties, colourful posters have already been pasted across the constituency.
Candidates are also travelling to different parts of the constituency as part of their hectic electioneering.
They are also using the photographs of their respective political parties’ chiefs in their posters.
