Except for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), local leaders of Awami League (AL) and other political parties have already begun lobbying for party nomination to contest the upcoming national election from their Chattogram-13 constituency.
They are also greeting the local people and wishing them on the various occasions and festivals.
BNP is focused on drumming up role of a non-partisan election-time government but its leaders are believed to be taking preparation for the next general elections anyway.
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.
However, the leaders of BNP and Jatiya Party and other political parties have started preparing the ground for the upcoming parliamentary elections as the next elections will be very competitive.
Therefore, the expected level of election excitement, what should have been witnessed by this time, is still missing as all the political parties are still not there in the field with their full strength.
With hardly four months to go for the general elections, poll fever is gradually gripping the public with even tea stall, dinner table and drawing room talk zeroing in on which political party will form the country’s next government.
Therefore, like other constituencies in the country, race for nomination has also garnered significant hype in Chattogram-13 as the aspirants believe the next polls will be held on time.
Only those who can prove their worth for this competitive election will be nominated.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed of ruling AL has been representing in the National Parliament from Chattogram-13 constituency since 2014.
The constituency encompasses Karnaphuli Thana, Anwara upazila, and five union parishads of Patiya upazila: Bara Uthan, Char Lakshya, Char Patharghata, Juldha, and Sikalbaha.
The constituency was created for the first general elections in the newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973.
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 altered the boundaries of the constituency.
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-13 covers the area previously covered by Chattogram-12.
Previously Chattogram-13 encompassed Chandanaish upazila and seven union parishads of Satkania upazila: Bazalia, Dharmapur, Kaliais, Keochia, Khagaria, Puranagar, and Sadaha.
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, the first under-river tunnel in South Asia is located in this constituency.
The construction works of the tunnel is nearing completion
The tunnel will become "one city with two towns" and the passageway being constructed beneath the Karnaphuli River is expected to be opened for vehicular movement very soon.
The tunnel, the first-ever one in the country, will unlock a new epoch in the history of the communication systems in the region.
Once the tunnel is opened, it will be a game changer for the southeast region of Bangladesh, presenting a solution to connectivity issues to the rest of the country.
The multilane tunnel will directly connect the Chittagong Port with Anwara upazila and the tunnel is expected to make communication between Chittagong and Cox's Bazar easier.
The tunnel will also ease traffic congestion on two bridges, including Shah Amanat Bridge, over the Karnaphuli River.
As part of the project, bridges, totaling 740 metres in length have been built, linking the main port city and western side of Karnaphuli River with the heavily industrialized eastern side of the river and Anwara upazila.
The tunnel will connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka- Chittagong -Cox's Bazar Highway along with reducing the distance from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar by 40 km.
Vehicles in this tunnel will run at a speed of 80 km per hour, according to the project details.
Apart from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, country’s two major fertilizer factories – the Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (Kafco) and the Chittagong Urea Fertilize Limited (CUFL) are also situated here.
The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone is also located in Chattogram'sAnowara upazila.
Parki Beach, now being developed here will become the second Cox’s Bazar after the implementation of various projects.
Apart from these, a large number of projects are going on here centering Bangabandhu tunnel which has already added a new dimension to the history of Bangladesh's communication sector.
Therefore, this constituency is very important to all political parties.
AL candidate BM Faizur Rahman contested the first general elections in the newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973 and became the Member of Parliament (MP).
BNP candidate MahbubKabir Chowdhury contested the national poll held in 1979 and won the seat while Col. Oli Ahmad contested the by-election held in 1980 and became the lawmaker.
National Awami Party candidate Afsar Uddin Ahmed contested the general election held in 1986 won the seat.
Former AL presidium member, one of the organisers of the liberation war, Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu contested the general election held in 1991 and became the MP.
Meanwhile, BNP candidate Sarwar Jamal Nizam contested the general election held in 1996 and won the seat.
He (Sarwar Jamal Nizam) had also contested in the national poll held in 2001 as a BNP candidate and became the lawmaker again.
Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu contested the general election held in 2008 and regained the seat.
But he (Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu) died in November in 2012.
Later his eldest son Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed contested the by-poll in January in 2013 and won the seat.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, the incumbent land minister also contested the general election held in 2014 and became lawmaker from the constituency.
He also contested the general election held in 2018 and won the seat again.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed’s father Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu is part of the great liberation war history as he upheld the ideals, image of the party and spirits of liberation war till his death.
Babu's Jupiter House at Patharghata was the camp for the freedom fighters in the city in 1971.
Sitting here, the then local leaders of AL took decision and disseminated the messages of the declaration of independence.
Babu was the leader of mass people and one the prime organisers of liberation war.
He was an important leader in the politics of AL in the region.
So, as a son Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed is also a popular leader in the constituency.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed is also known as clean and transparent image leader in the locality.
And, he has also the acceptability to common people of the constituency.
According to local leaders and workers of AL, the party high command this time will also give him (Saifuzzaman Chowdhury) nomination to contest the next general election.
Apart from him, Chairman of Standing Committee on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Waseqa Ayesha Khan, MP of Reserved women’s seat-31 is likely to seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Waseqa Ayesha Khan is daughter of former AL veteran leader and presidium member late Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser.
Therefore, she is also a popular leader in the constituency.
On the other hand, former BNP MP Sarwar Jamal Nizam will seek party nomination to contest the next general election if BNP joins the poll.
Beside, businessman Mustafizur Rahman and Lion Helal Uddin will also seek party (BNP) nomination to contest the next general election.
But, leaders and activists of BNP are waiting for the party’s high command decision.
Activities of opposition Jatiya Party are hardly seen in the locality till date.
But, the party (Jatiya Party) will field its candidate to contest the next general election.
Jamaat-e-Islam, however, is yet to announce its candidate for Chattogram constituency-13.
It is learnt that two leaders of Jamaat-e-Islam are likely to seek party nomination to contest upcoming national elections.
The high command of Jamaat-e-Islam will disclose its candidate name for the Chattogram constituency-13 if the party is allowed to participate in the next general elections.
The Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) leader Mohammad Emran Chowdhury will contest the next general election from Chattogram-13 constituency.
Besides, MA Matin, Secretary General of Bangladesh Islami Front will seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
IrfanulHaque leader of IslamiAndolan Bangladesh will seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
