Jamaat’s Hindu candidate draws buzz
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s newly announced candidate for Khulna-1, Krishna Nandi, has ignited lively discussion both online and on the ground after unveiling a striking campaign slogan that merges Hindu devotional chant with his party’s electoral symbol.
Nandi’s slogan — “Hare Krishna Hari Bol, Daripalla Taine Tol” (Hare Krishna Hari Bol, Lift the Scales) — went viral shortly after his campaign formally launched on Thursday in Batiaghata. The phrase invokes a well-known Hindu chant while urging voters to support the daripalla (scale), Jamaat’s election symbol.
The slogan has quickly become a talking point in Khulna’s political circles, with many noting its unusual blend of religious sentiment and political messaging at a time when Islamist parties are trying to broaden their electoral appeal.
‘A call for peace, harmony, and development’
Speaking to reporters after launching his campaign, Nandi said he crafted the slogan to bring communities together rather than divide them.
“My slogan is not about division; it is a call for peace, harmony, and development,” he said.
“I want to represent people of all communities.”
Nandi, a businessman from Chuknagar in Dumuria, currently serves as president of Jamaat’s Dumuria Upazila Hindu Committee — a position that has already set him apart within a party long perceived as conservative and majority-Muslim in its leadership structure.
Strong response on first day, says Jamaat
Jamaat’s Khulna district secretary general Mizanur Rahman said a dedicated committee has already been formed to coordinate Nandi’s election activities.
“On the very first day, we received tremendous enthusiasm and response from local residents,” he claimed, adding that grassroots workers were energised by the unusual but catchy messaging.
A rare candidature
Nandi is contesting from Khulna-1, which covers the Batiaghata and Dakop upazilas — a constituency where Jamaat has traditionally maintained an organisational presence but rarely fielded minority candidates.
His nomination comes at a moment when the eight-party Islamist alliance, of which Jamaat is a key member, is seeking to expand its base and reshape its public image ahead of the upcoming national elections.
For now, Nandi’s slogan continues to dominate conversation in Khulna — signalling both a novel campaign strategy and a test of how far Jamaat can stretch its electoral messaging in a rapidly shifting political landscape.