Eight political big shots caught off guard

Staff Reporter :
Eight political minnows caught their counterpart big shots off guard across the country in the 12th Parliamentary Election on Sunday.

Meanwhile, until compilation of the report, about 50 seats were secured by Bangladesh Awami League (AL), Jatiya Party (JaPa) five and independent 13 (unofficially declared).

Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju has lost Pirojpur-2 election against independent candidate Mahiuddin Maharaj.

This marks the first time Manju has lost a national election, having previously contested seven times.

Awami League candidate and State Minister for Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahaman lost to Independent candidate Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Murad Jang in Savar.

AL candidate Anupam Shahjahan Joy beat Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddique in Tangail-8. Mohiuddin Maharaj, the district Awami League Joint General Secretary and former Zilla Parishad chairman, once served Manju as his personal assistant. For Jatiya Party (Manju), success in national elections typically relies on the performance of its key figure, Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju, particularly in Pirojpur-2-his home constituency covering Bhandaria, Kawkhali, and Zianagarupazilas.

Since its establishment in 2001, the party has secured more than one seat only once, in 2014, during the national election boycotted by major opposition parties, including the BNP.

Besides, other big shots in the polls are Hasanul Haq Inu (Kushtia-2), state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md. Mahbub Ali (Habigang-4 ), Mosiur Rahman Ranga (Rangpur-1), Fazle Hasan Badsha (Rajshahi-2) and AL presidium member Kazi Zafrullah (Faridpur-4).