Two constituencies in Magura, traditionally known as strongholds of Awami League (AL), are likely to see good contest as candidates from the ruling party and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have started campaign months before for the next Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls.
Since the independence, AL won Magura-1 seat comprising Magura Sadar and Sreepur upazilas for six terms and Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) for a single term. Magura -2 seat comprising Mohammadpaur, Salikha and four unions of Magura Sadar was won by AL for seven terms, BNP and JP for one term each. BNP candidate Kazi Salimul Haque alias Kazi Kamal bagged the seat in 1994 through an alleged fraudulence. Massive irregularities in the seat were widely criticized across the country as well as abroad.
Nomination aspirants have already started conducting campaigns in their constituencies in Magura district for the 12th JS polls.
The aspirants are meeting with the people and participating in welfare activities in the areas, apparently to win the hearts of the voters months before the polls.
Awami League, the party that led the Liberation War following call from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is clearly in a strong position in the district.
A number of people in Magura-1 seat said they are happy about the ongoing development activities in the district, including good road communications even in remote villages, the ongoing work for long-cherished railway lines, four-lane road in the town, medical college, modern stadium, information and communication technology (ICT) park and a number of bridges. A large number of people in the district have come under income generation activities.
Obviously they will consider for the AL-backed candidate once again for continuity of the development process under the ruling AL.
On the other hand, the opposition BNP activists said they are determined to win the seat in the next elections through ballot.
They expressed hope that common people will bring BNP to power for their survival as according to them, the whole nation is suffering due to high prices of essentials and lack of safety and security of the BNP men, even common people.
Incumbent AL lawmaker Advocate Saifuzzaman Sikhor, former personal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also a former student leader, had started development work in the district even before his election as MP from the district. He always prioritises the needs of the people of his constituency (Magura Sadar and Sreepur), said several locals.
He is expected to be the lone candidate from the ruling AL in Magura-1 in the next JS polls.
Names of several aspirants from the opposition BNP are heard in the constituency.
They are Manwar Hossain Khan last, nominated for the last JS polls, Iqbal Akter Khan Kafur, nominated for the JS polls in 2008, BNP district unit convener Ali Ahmed, joint conveners Habib Kishore and Akter Hossain.
When contacted, Manwar Hossain Khan said he does not want to give his opinion right now as it totally depends on the decision of the central leaders of his party. He is keeping close contact with the people in his locality and staying with the leaders in the movement against the incumbent government.
Manwar expressed hope that if BNP goes to national polls, the party will nominate him although more than one person might seek nomination from the large political party.
Serajus Sayefin Saif, son of late Hasan Seraj Suja, advisor to former president HM Ershad is likely to seek nomination from the JP in the next JS polls. He has a strong support of the followers of his father as late Hasan Seraj Suja had a close relation with the grassroots people in Magura. He is preparing for the next parliamentary election if his party participates in the polls. Saif also maintains close contact with the central JP leaders.
Name of another candidate is discussed among some of the leaders of Islami
Andolon for Magura-1 seat. If they participate in the polls without alliance,
Moulana Nazirul Islam is expected to fight as the lone candidate, they said.
Magura-2
Former minister for sports Biren Shikder was elected lawmaker from Magura-2 seat for four terms with AL’s boat symbol. As a long-time lawmaker, Shikder was very close to the people of his constituency, as well as other parts of the district. He is hopeful of getting the nomination from his party leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as he conducted several development works in the area during the tenure.
Bangladesh Chhatra League central committee vice president Advocate Ohidur Rahman Tipu, law affairs secretary of Sechchhasewak League central committee, also former assistant high commissioner in Bangladesh Mission in Manchester of the United Kingdom, is hopeful of getting nomination to continue the flow of development with dynamism as desired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Magura Sadar upazila Vice President and Bangabandhu Diploma Engineers’
Association central committee Vice President Sheikh Nabib Ali is going to contest in the next 12th JS polls from Magura-2 seat. He is hopeful about nomination from the party chief.
BNP central committee vice chairman, former minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury is likely to seek nomination as the lone party candidate from Magura-2 seat in the 12th JS polls.
“I am hopeful of winning as I always stood by the people of Mohammdpur and Salikha. I will participate in the polls if the AL government meets our party’s 10-point demand,” he said.
Islami Andolon Magura district committee President and Islami Sramik Andolon Joint Secretary Mufti Mostafa Kamal is likely to participate in the polls if the party contests independently. He had participated in the JS polls and bagged satisfactory vote in the polls of 2001.
Jatiya Party (JP) Mohammadpur upazila committee President Khasrul Alam and its General Secretary Murad Ali might seek nomination if the party participates without any alliance in the 12th polls. Both of them have started moving for campaign in the area to make their way smooth.
Lt Col (retired) Hannan Mridha might appear in the next JS polls with his favourite symbol ‘football’ as an independent candidate. He has started conducting campaign in a limited scale.
