Some ruling Awami League candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary elections might lose to independent candidates as Prime Minister and party chief Sheikh Hasina permitted rebel candidates in the polls to make it participatory and festive.
The high command of the ruling party announced that no one could elect without voting this time. For this reason, it permitted dummy candidates and independent candidates from the party to increase the turnout of voters. Taking advantage of this decision, many Awami League leaders are vying against the party-nominated candidates.
The rebel independent candidates included nomination-deprived lawmakers, state ministers and influential local leaders. They have thrown a big challenge to the Awami League-nominated candidates.
The ruling party so far didn’t change their decision about independent candidates. In response to a question in this regard, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said this is their election strategy. The Party chief has openly announced the matter. There is no change in the decision about rebel candidates, he asserted.
Here is a list of independent candidates who might win against the Awami League candidates in the absence of the BNP.
Awami League presidium member Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan got the party ticket from the Gopalganj-1 constituency. The party’s independent candidate Muksudpur upazila chairman Kabir Mia is vying against him. Kabir Mia became upazila chairman as an independent candidate. He has huge popularity among the youth. The five-time lawmaker Faruk Khan might lose his position to Kabir Mia. Fearing possible defeat Faruk Khan’s daughter is seeking votes through social media for the first time. The matter is widely discussed among local leaders and activists. Awami League leaders and activists were divided into two groups ahead of the polls.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman is vying with the boat symbol at the Dhaka-19 constituency. Former lawmaker Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad is fighting against the party candidate. Murad is the son of Bangabandhu’s close aide Anwar Jung. Divided local Awami League leaders and activists are working for both candidates.
Abul Kalam Azad bagged an Awami League ticket for the next national polls from the Rajshahi-4 seat. Three-time parliamentarian Engineer Enamul Haque Ena is competing against him.
Barishal City Corporation (BCC) former mayor Serniabad Sadiq Abdulla is vying against Awami League candidate State Minister for Water Resources Colonel (Retd) Zahid Faruk from Barishal-5 constituency. Much discussed Serniabad Sadiq Abdulla could wage a hard fight in the constituency.
If Awami League International Affairs Secretary Shammi Ahmed gets back candidature after the appeal hearing of the election commission, she will have to fight against independent candidate and current lawmaker Pankaj Debnath from Barishal-4 seat. Their voting fight will be competitive.
Talukder Md. Younus got the Awami League nomination from Barishal 2. The 14-party alliance partner Workers’ Party’s Rashed Khan Menon might get the final nomination. Menon submitted nomination papers for Barishal-2 and Barishal-3 constituencies after losing his former seat of Dhaka-8 to Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahaudidn Nasim. Menon wants to fight from Barishal-2 with a boat symbol. If Menon gets the final ticket, nomination-deprived Monirul Islam Monir will be the main rival, who is a three-time former lawmaker.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haque Inu might get the Kushtia-2 constituency as a 14-party alliance partner. Awami League nomination-deprived Mirpur upazila chairman Kamrul Islam is his prime rival candidate. Inu will have to face challenges this time.
Pirozpur district Awami League president and former lawmaker Abdul Awal is vying for the Pirozpur-1 seat as an independent candidate. Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim bagged a party ticket for this constituency. Rezaul might lose this seat to Awal.
Journalist Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman got an Awami League ticket from Chandpur-4 constituency as Chandpur district Awami League president Shamsul Haque Bhuiyan lost party ticket because the election commission cancelled his nomination paper for bank loan default. Local leaders and activists are divided into two groups. A maximum of them support Shamsul Haque Bhuiyan.
Independent heavyweight candidate former lawmaker Sirajul Islam is fighting against Awami League nominated Zahirul Haque Bhuiyan Mohan from Narsinghi-3 seat.
Five times chairman of Monohardi upazila Saiful Islam is vying against Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun from the Narsingdi-4 constituency as an independent candidate. The current minister might face a strong fight in this seat.
Awami League candidate Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu will have to face a strong independent candidate former Chhatra League Organising Secretary Khalilur Rahman in the Barguna-1 seat.
Women-reserved seat lawmaker Tahmina Begum is vying against Abdus Sobhan Golap from the Madaripur-3 constituency.
Local Awami League leaders are against the party-nominated Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan in the Panchagarh-1 seat.
Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafar Ulla got a boat symbol from the Faridpur-4 constituency. Current lawmaker Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon is the main rival.
Abul Kalam Azad bagged the Awami League nomination from the Gaibanda-4 constituency. He will have to fight current lawmaker engineer Monuar Hossain Chowdhury.
Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddique Bir Uttam and President of Krishak Sramik Janata League is a heavyweight candidate in the Tangail-3 seat. Awami League has given the ticket to Dr Kamrul Islam for this seat. Former lawmaker Amanur Rahman Khan Rana is vying here as an independent candidate. There will be three-way fighting in this constituency.
Mozaherul Islam Talukder bagged the ruling party ticket from the Tangail-4 seat. He will face a tough challenge from independent candidate former minister Abdul Latif Siddique.
Nomination-deprived Murad Sidique is vying for the Tangail-4 and Tangail-5 constituencies as an independent candidate. Awami League candidate Mamunur Rashid is fighting from Tanagil-5.
Enamul Haque Babul bagged an Awami League ticket for the Jahsore-4 constituency. Current lawmaker Ranjit Kumar Roy is his main rival candidate.
Awami League presidium member Abdus Sobhan Golap got a boat from Fardipur-1 seat. Independent candidate journalist Arifur Rahman Dolon and workers’ leader Shah Mohammad Abu Zafor will vie against Golap. A three-way fight is expected in this seat.
Satkhira sadar upazila chairman Asaduzzaman Babu got Awami League nomination from Satkhira-2 seat. Current parliamentarian Mir Mostaque Ahmed Robi is his strong opponent.
Firoz Ahmed Swapan bagged the ruling party ticket from the Satkhira-1 constituency. Former lawmaker Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sardar Mujib are strong independent candidates in this seat.
Swechasebak League fisheries and livestock secretary Mahbubur Rahman Helal bagged boat symbol from Jamalpur-4 seat. Former minister Dr Murad Hasan is his main rival.
Razee Mohammad Fakhrul got the boat from the Cumilla-4 seat. Cumilla North district Awami League organising secretary Abul Kalam Azad will fight against him.
Film actress Mahia Mahi will vie against Awami League-nominated Omor Faruk Chowdhury in Rajshahi-1 constituency.
Singer and current lawmaker Momtaz Begum will have to fight against four Awami League independent candidates from Manikganj-2 seat. This time Momtaz might lose her reign.
Former Chhatra League president and current parliamentarian Mahmud Hasan Ripan got the boat in the Gaibandha-5 seat. Nomination-deprived Farzana Bubly is his strong rival candidate.
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 12, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.
