The intending candidates of the ruling Awami League (AL) and other political parties are making hectic efforts to get nomination from their parties for the Member of Parliament race in the next general election from Chattogram-15 constituency.
Although Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) still adheres to its political strategy of not contesting in national polls sans caretaker government, grassroots leaders are preparing for the next general election secretly and silently, according to locals and party insiders.
Once, this constituency was known as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-Jamaat’s stronghold. But now AL has established the supremacy in the constituency as the party candidate Professor Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadwi contested the two consecutive national polls held in 2014 and 2018 and won the seat twice.
He (Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadwi) has been representing in the National Parliament from Chattogram-15 constituency since 2014.
So, Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadwi will also seek party nomination this time.
According to insiders, the hopeful nomination seekers are trying to woo the top brass of their parties for nomination as the next national election is expected to hold in the first week of January next.
Talking to journalists locals say if the BNP joins the next general election, the main battle will be between “boat” and “sheaf of paddy”, electoral symbols of the AL and BNP, respectively.
Some policymakers of the AL, the party in power for three consecutive terms, share the idea that the BNP will participate in the election and the party in power will talk the opposition into contesting the election.
The constituency encompasses Lohagara upazila and all but six union parishads of Satkania upazila: Bazlia, Dharmapur, Kalais, Keochia, Khagaria, and Puranagar.
The constituency was created for the first general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973.
Ahead of the 2014 general election, the Election Commission renumbered the seat for Sandwip upazila from Chattogram-16 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-15 covers the area previously covered by Chattogram-14.
Previously Chattogram-15 encompassed Banshkhali upazila.
Apart from incumbent lawmaker Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadwi, AL Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Satkania upazila AL President and upazila Chairman MA Motaleb, Chattogram Press Club former President and AL leader Abu Sufiyan and former Organising secretary of Shwachip Dr ANM Minhazur Rahman will also seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Besides, AL Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua has already expressed his willingness to seek party ticket to contest the next general election from Chattogram-15 constituency.
Therefore, the ruling AL will have to struggle to have a single MP candidate for Chattogram-15 constituency, according to the latest development in the constituency’s political arena.
On the other hand, intra-party feud and selection of “wrong candidate” may cause BNP to suffer a humiliating defeat in the next general election in the constituency, said local politicians and civil society members
However, Satkania upazila BNP Convener Jamal Hossain, Lohagara upazila BNP Convener Nazmul Mustafa Amin, Lohagara upazila BNP former President Ashab Uddin Chowdhury and Satkania upazila BNP former President Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury will seek party nomination if BNP joins the next general election.
Besides, BNP leader ATM Zahed Chowdhury will also seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
The Jatiya Party, the main opposition in parliament, will also field candidate to contest the next general election.
Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the largest fundamentalist parties in Bangladesh, was recently seen very much active, holding public meeting, protest rally and other activities.
Although the Jamaat has not been allowed to participate in the national election, its leaders and workers are taking preparation to contest the next general election.
Jamaat-e-Islami Chittagong city Unit President ANM Shamsul Islam and central leader Shahjahan Chowdhury are likely to seek party nomination to contest next general election.
They (ANM Shamsul Islam and Shahjahan Chowdhury) are not seen the locality but they maintain constant communications with the leaders and workers of the constituency.
They have been accused of unleashing a reign of terror throughout the constituency in 2013.
When convicted war criminal late Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was arrested in 2013, leaders and activists of Jamaat and its student wing Shibir went on rampage, spreading rumours that Sayeedi sighted at the moon.
The rumours were originated from this constituency.
As soon as the rumours spread across the country, activists of Jamaat-Shibir set fire to vehicles and damaged many government structures.
So, leaders and workers AL of this constituency are determined to take to the streets to foil BNP-Jamaat's conspiracy at any cost.
Campaign activities for AL candidates in the constituency are energetic but supporters of non-ruling party candidates, particularly the BNP and Jamaat was hardly seen electioneering.
There was an uneasy calm and many kept themselves carefully away from campaigning or even discussing the next general elections.
A cross section of locals said those who support the BNP or the Jamaat-e-Islami have either kept themselves away from campaigning or have started electioneering for the AL to “avert police trouble or harassment”, according to local people.
Though the two major political camps remain rigid on their stances over the contentious issue of polls-time administration, they are making preparations for the 12th parliamentary election, according locals.
This time AL and BNP will try hard to regain the constituency.
BNP is a big political party and its leaders also want to take part in the polls, local BNP leaders and activists said.
