S A Shofiee, Sylhet:
Election fervor has gripped Sylhet even during the Eid festivities, mirroring the mood across the country ahead of the upcoming national polls. Leaders from major political parties—including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP)—have returned to their constituencies to celebrate Eid while simultaneously engaging in early campaign activities.
Political analysts say that it is not yet certain when the 13th national elections will be held. However, potential candidates do not want to miss any opportunity. As a result, they are trying to increase their popularity by visiting the areas around the Eid festival and exchanging greetings, holding prayer mahfils, opinion-sharing meetings and mass contacts.
BNP Chairperson’s advisor and former mayor of CCIC Ariful Haque Chowdhury exchanged views with party leaders and activists throughout the day after offering Eid prayers at the Shahi Eidgah in Sylhet.
BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Khandaker Abdul Muktadir offered Eid prayers at Hazrat Shah Jalal Mosque in the Dargah and exchanged Eid greetings with leaders and activists of various levels throughout the day at his bus house in Kazir Bazar.
BNP Central International Affairs Advisor Barrister MA Salam celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr at his bus house in Mogla Bazar, South Surma and exchanged greetings with party leaders and activists.
NCP Central Member Barrister Nurul Huda Junaid exchanged Eid greetings with party leaders and activists, including the local people, after offering Eid prayers in Sylhet.
Among the Jamaat’s party-nominated candidates, Professor Abdul Hannan in Osmaninagar in Sylhet 2, Maulana Lokman Ahmed in Dakshin Surma in Sylhet 3, Joynal Abedin in Jaintapur in Sylhet 4, Maulana Anwar Hossain Khan in Kanaighat in Sylhet 5 and former student leader Selim Uddin in Beanibazar in Sylhet 6 offered Eid prayers in their respective constituencies and exchanged Eid greetings with the locals along with party leaders and activists.
Political leaders distributed Fitra and Zakat among the helpless on Eid day. Some also organised feasts for leaders and activists and the common people. Many leaders distributed cash in the name of Eid greetings.
The main goal of the potential candidates is now to win the hearts of voters by participating in the Eid festival. All in all, a new atmosphere has been created in the political arena of the country with the upcoming elections in mind.
