There’s no independent candidate in 76 constituencies to participate in 12th national elections. No Awami League (AL) men didn’t participated in the vote contest against the AL-nominated candidates of those constituencies, as some ministers, state ministers and influential leaders of the party already confirmed their party nominations in those seats. As there’s no strong contestant or competent independent candidates in vote race there, the win of these heavyweight candidates seems to be confirmed.
There’s no festive mood in those constituencies and the ‘over-sure’ candidates aren’t visiting the voting fields. The party president and Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina instructed party men to fight as the independent candidates to remove the risk of non-competitive elections as BNP and like-minded parties boycotted the elections. After this instruction, the many AL leaders deprived of nominations rushed to become independent candidates to fight for vote.
After the scrutiny process of election commission is over, the total number of independent candidates stands at 382 who would contest in 224 constituencies. According to the information sent by representatives of The Bangladesh Pratidin, there’s no contest visible in 174 constituencies among 300s. However, there are no independent candidates in 76 constituencies. Hence, the victory of AL and other ruling party-backed candidates seems to be sure there.
Workers Party's Fazle Hossain Badsha is contesting in Rajshahi-2 constituency as a candidate of the 14-party alliance. There are also candidates like him from Jatiya Party: AKM Mostafizur Rahman (Kurigram-1), ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar (Patuakhali-1), Jatiya Party's AKM Salim Osman (Narayanganj-5) and Salah Uddin Ahmed (Mukti) in Mymensingh-5. These four constituencies are among the 26 of those that Awami League has left to Jatiya Party as they are the ally of Grand Alliance. Following the party decision, the Awami League candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers from these seats.
Although Tangail-8 has no independent candidate, there is a possibility of a three-way fight there. Awami League candidate Anupam Shahjahan got party nomination for this seat. Bangbir Quader Siddiqui Biruttam of Krishak Sramik Janata League is the other heavyweight candidate in the seat. Md. Rezaul Karim of the Jatiya Party is fighting as a rival.
Among the 70 independent candidates of boat symbol, three are in Rangpur division. They are - Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan (Panchgarh-2), Ramesh Chandra Sen (Thakurgaon-1) and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi (Rangpur-4). In Rajshahi Division, there are nine new candidates got boat symbol. They are - Mujibur Rahman Majnu (Bogra-5), Md Abdul Odud (Chapainawabganj-3), Asaduzzaman Asad (Rajshahi-3), Tanvir Shakeel Joy (Sirajganj-1), Jannat Ara Henry (Sirajganj-2), Abdul Aziz ( Sirajganj-3), Shafiqul Islam (Sirajganj-4), Ahmed Firoz Kabir (Pabna-2) and Ghulam Farooq Khandkar Prince (Pabna-5).
There are 5 people in the list of ‘tension-free boatmen’ in Khulna division. They are national team cricketers Shakib Al Hasan (Magura-1), Mashrafe Bin Mortuza (Narail-2), Biren Shikder (Magura-2), Sheikh Helal Uddin (Bagerhat-1) and Narayan Chandra Chand (Khulna-5). The captains of the 5 independent candidates who got boat sign in Barisal division are ASM Feroz (Patuakhali-2), Tofail Ahmed (Bhola-1), Ali Azam (Bhola-2), Abul Hasnat Abdullah (Barisal-1) and Amir Hossain Amu (Jhalkathi-2). ).
There are four independent Awami League candidates in Mymensingh division. They are Noor Mohammad (Jamalpur-1), Awami League's Dhaka Divisional Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam (Jamalpur-3), Fahmi Golandaz Babel (Mymensingh-10) and Sazzadul Hasan (Netrokona-4).
No Awami League leader entered the election field as an independent candidate in 17 constituencies of Dhaka division. The boatmen in the seats are - Rezwan Ahmed Taufiq (Kishorganj-4), Health Minister Zahid Malek (Manikganj-3), Prime Minister's Advisor on Private Industry and Investment Salman Fazlur Rahman (Dhaka-1), Mohammad Saeed Khokon (Dhaka-6), Mohammad Solaiman Salim (Dhaka-7), Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nashim (Dhaka-8), Saber Hossain Chowdhury (Dhaka-9), Ferdous Ahmed (Dhaka-10), Mohammad Wakil Uddin (Dhaka-11), Asaduzzaman Khan (Dhaka-12), Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak (Dhaka-13), State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumdar (Dhaka-15), Shamim Osman (Narayanganj-4), Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Gopalganj-3) ), Noor-e Alam Chowdhury (Madaripur-1), Shajahan Khan (Madaripur-2) and Nahim Razzaq (Shariatpur-3).
There are no independent candidates in six constituencies of Sylhet division. The AL candidates there are: Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen (Sylhet-1), Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury (Sylhet-2), Imran Ahmed (Sylhet-4), Mohammad Zillur Rahman (Moulvibazar-3), Md Abdus Shaheed (Moulvibazar-4) and Mo Abu Zahir (Habiganj-3).
The highest number of non-independent candidates is in Chattogram division. The number of non-independent candidates with boat symbol here is 21. They are - Law Minister Anisul Haque (Brahmanbaria-4), Captain (retd.) AB Tajul Islam (Brahmanbaria-6), Local Government Rural Development and Cooperative Minister Md. Tajul Islam (Comilla-9), Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal (Comilla-10), Awami League Information and Research Secretary Salim Mahmud (Chandpur-1), Rafiqul Islam (Chandpur-5), Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader (Noakhali-5), Mohammad Ali (Noakhali-6), SM Al Mamun (Chittagong-4), Information and Broadcasting Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League Dr. Hasan Mahmud (Chittagong-7), Education Deputy Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel (Chittagong-9), Lands Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury (Chittagong-13), Ashek Ullah Rafique (Cox's Bazar-2), Saimum Sarwar Kamal (Cox's Bazar-3), Shaheen Akhtar (Cox's Bazar-4), Kujendra Lal Tripura (Khagrachari), Dipankar Talukder (Rangamati) and Bir Bahadur U Shai Singh (Bandarban).
(The report was published in print and online version of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 25 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
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