Chuadanga-1 constituency is formed with Chuadanaga Sadar and the Alamdanga upazilas. The total number of voters in the constituency is 507,261 of them 255, 557 are males and 251,704 are female voters.
A tough struggle seems to set out among the nomination seekers from both the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP to bag the party approval to contest in the upcoming 12th Parliamentary Elections.
For the last three terms from 2008, the Chuadanga-1 seat has been occupied by Awami League. The seat was under the BNP rule from 1991 to 2001. BNP candidates are now active in the field to regain the seat from the grip of the Awami League. But, the internal feud also seems to escalate among party insiders as there is more than one candidate from both parties.
During the last 11 Parliamentary Elections, Awami League bagged the seat four times, BNP won five times and both the Independent candidate and JSD(Rab) supported candidate won one time each.
Once upon a time, the constituency was known as the fort of BNP but now it has turned to the fort of Awami League. Local Awami League leaders through their active presence and various development activities fully supported the consecutively three-time elected, incumbent Member of Parliament Solaiman Haque Joarder Salun. But, after the Awami League district conference held on 12 December last year, a clear division is visible among the AL leaders. Though in the website of the central Awami League, Solaiman Haque Joarder Salun and Azadul Islam Azad have been mentioned as the President and the General Secretary of Chuadanga respectively, no list of a full-fledged committee has so far been published.
On the other hand, new BNP local leaders divided among themselves are also trying to warm up the party activities by converging all on the same row. Possible candidates from various political parties are trying to draw the attention of the voters and the central party leaders through their various political, social and developmental activities.
Among the nomination seekers to vie as candidates in the 12th Parliamentary Elections from Awamil League are: three-time elected incumbent MP, valiant freedom fighter Solaiman Haque Joarder Salun, Sadar Upazila Chairman Asadul Haque Biswas, former Zila Parishad Chairman Sheikh Shamsul Abedin Khokon, valiant freedom fighter Professor Dr Mahbub Hossain Mehedi, Managing Director of Diamond World, renowned industrialist Dilip Kumar Agarwala and Chairman of My One Minister Group, renowned industrialist M A Razzak Khan Raj.
On the other hand, among the BNP nomination seekers are: the central Vice-Chairman of BNP Shamsuzzaman Dudu, former Member Secretary of district BNP Sharifuzzaman Sharif and the Convener of district BNP Lt. Col ( retd) Syed Kamruzzaman.
Moreover, Central team member of Jamaat-e-Islami of Jashore and Kushtia region Mohammad Anowarul Haque Malik, the district convener of Jatiya Party (Ershad) Advocate Sohrab Hossain, JSD( Inu) M Sobed Ali, district Vice President of Islami Andolon Bangladesh Maulana Zahurl Islam, National Peoples Party Secretary General Idris Chowdhury and the district General Secretary of Zaker Party Mozibur Rahman are likely to contest the elections as MP candidate from the constituency if nominated from the concerned party high-ups.
Incumbent Member of Parliament, valiant freedom fighter Soliaman Haque Joarder Salun while talking to this correspondent said, there are many organisations in the country. The Election Nomination Board nominates a candidate as per their information. If the Board sees me as the fittest candidate, it would nominate me once again. Since I am engaged in field-level politics and work with the common people, the voters will not make me disappointed. If I am elected once again, I would re-excavate the Mathabhanga River and turn the Alamdanga Veterinary Training Centre into a College.
Incumbent Chairman of Sadar Upazila Asadul Haque Biswas said he has been working with the common people and acting as an honest, workers-friendly politician for the last 50-year and has been elected the Chairman of Chuadanga Sadar Upazila for consecutive three times. I hope to get a nomination from the party supremo Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the fittest candidate from the constituency.
Former Zila Parishad Chairman Sheikh Shamsul Abedin Khokon said, he has made a huge development work during his tenure as the Chairman and hoped the honourable Prime Minister would evaluate his activities and nominate him as a candidate from the constituency.
Valiant Freedom Fighter Professor Dr Mahboob Hossain Mehedi hoped to get the nomination as an MP candidate from the constituency and said, people would vote him to power as he is educated, honest, efficient, social worker. If elected, he would resolve the cent per cent unemployment problem, create a special economic zone and work to establish a Science, Technology, Agriculture and Medical University in Chuadanga.
Renowned industrialist, Managing Director of Diamond World Dilip Kumar Agarwala said he sought party nomination during the last elections and he was advised to work for the party and get prepared for the next time. That is why he is also 100 per cent hopeful to bag nomination for the Chuadanga-1 constituency. If elected, he would make Chuadanga a smart town with the touch of development everywhere.
Chairman of My One Minister group renowned industrialist MA Razzak Khan Raj said he is hopeful to get the nomination to serve people. He, however, mentioned that he would accept whatever decision the honourable Prime Minister gives. If elected he would work for human welfare, for economic development and for removing the unemployment problem.
On the other hand, the Central Vice Chairman of BNP, former MP Shamsuzzaman Dudu informed, BNP does not participate in the elections under the party government. BNP wants the resignation of the government and to form a Caretaker government. BNP is now busy with its 10-point-demand movement.
He mentioned, he had been two times Member of Parliament twice and would contest the elections again if the Caretaker government is formed.
District BNP Member Secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif informed, BNP won't participate in elections under this government. If the party participate in the elections, he is hopeful to get a nomination from the party.
Former Member of Convening Committee of district BNP Lt Col(retd) Syed Kamruzzaman informed if BNP participates in the elections, he is 100 per cent hopeful of getting a nomination from the party.
