Heavy weight leaders facing huge challenges
Reza Mahmud :
Heavyweight candidates are facing huge challenges to overcome the race of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Even top political leaders are under risks in crossing the electoral hurdle.
Despite making multifaceted strategies, they are unable to feel confident about victory in the polls.
In this context, the names of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, and Salahuddin Ahmed stand out prominently.
Although Tarique Rahman is relatively pressure-free due to contesting from two constituencies, others are not so fortunate. Tarique Rahman is contesting both from Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol. His victory in his home district Bogura is considered 100 percent certain.
Other heavyweight leaders are contesting from only one constituency each, leaving them under pressure-because a defeat would completely shut the door to Parliament.
However, their supporters hope that if the “Yes” vote wins in the referendum, such leaders may find a place in the upper house of Parliament.
Discussions with concerned sources reveal that, in the absence of the Awami League,
the upcoming election-being held amid divisions among anti-fascist forces-has prompted the fascist party to aggressively work to defeat heavyweight candidates.
Although not participating as a party, the Awami League and its allies are taking the election very seriously. Alongside campaigning for the “No” vote, the party is advising supporters to refrain from going to polling centers.
Those who do vote are being urged to support Jatiya Party candidates. However, Awami League voters are highly active against certain candidates-particularly top leaders of parties they oppose.
As a result, in constituencies where the Jatiya Party has little chance, the Awami League has decided to support rival candidates to ensure the defeat of heavyweight leaders.
Tarique Rahman at Risk in Dhaka-17 : In the election scheduled for 12 February, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is contesting from Dhaka-17.
His main rival in this constituency is Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman, a specialist physician and Chairman of Bangladesh Fertility Hospital.
Mohammad Ullah of Islami Andolon Bangladesh and Abul Kalam Azad of the Bangladesh National Front are also contesting here.
The constituency has a total of 333,777 voters-174,709 male and 159,060 female. Voters include residents of elite areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Niketan, Baridhara, and the Cantonment, as well as inhabitants of the Korail slum.
It is widely believed that whichever way the Korail slum votes will determine the outcome. As a result, candidates’ promises are heavily focused on slum dwellers.
While BNP leaders are highly optimistic about Tarique Rahman’s victory, Jamaat is unwilling to concede easily. Jamaat and its alliance supporters are working day and night to ensure their candidate’s victory.
Jamaat activists have become extremely angry over what they describe as an unethical attempt by BNP-aligned doctors to portray Dr. Khaliduzzaman as controversial. Determined to take revenge by defeating Tarique Rahman at any cost, Jamaat leaders and activists are reportedly receiving support from Awami League voters, according to multiple sources.
Dr. Khaliduzzaman is 100 percent confident of victory in Dhaka-17. However, Tarique Rahman’s chief election agent, Abdus Salam, said that Tarique Rahman would win by a margin of more than one hundred thousand votes.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman faces challenges: In this election, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is contesting from Dhaka-15 with the Scale symbol. His main rival is BNP candidate Shafiqul Islam Khan.
The constituency has 351,718 voters-179,616 male and 172,098 female. Voters from Mirpur and Kafrul police station areas, covering wards 4, 13, 14, and 16, will vote on 12 February.
Analysts believe that although BNP’s Shafiqul Islam Khan appears weak on paper against Jamaat’s Ameer and the leader of the 11-party alliance, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s path to victory is far from easy.
The fascist Awami League and its allies firmly believe that Jamaat-Shibir played the key role behind Sheikh Hasina’s downfall. As a result, all political forces are desperate to defeat Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at any cost-indirectly strengthening the BNP candidate.
Nonetheless, Jamaat activists and supporters remain fully confident of their Ameer’s victory.
Mirza Fakhrul Fears Delawar: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is contesting from Thakurgaon-1. His main rival is Jamaat candidate Delawar Hossain, former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir. Mo. Khademul Islam of the Hand Fan symbol is also contesting.
As there is no Jatiya Party candidate in this constituency, BNP leaders expect Awami League voters to support Mirza Fakhrul. Going a step further, Fakhrul sparked controversy by declaring that all cases filed against the Awami League would be withdrawn if BNP came to power.
However, local voters believe that Fakhrul’s victory will not be easy. A viral video showing the vandalism of Jamaat candidate Delawar Hossain’s billboard late at night intensified negative campaigning against Fakhrul. Delawar is highly popular in the constituency.
During the anti-Hasina movement, he suffered severe repression as Shibir president. Khaleda Zia mentioned him by name in several public rallies.
Jamaat activists have long been campaigning for Delawar, portraying him as a “living martyr.”
Both Jamaat and BNP remain equally optimistic about victory, with Awami League voters expected to play the decisive role.
The Hadi Factor Before Mirza Abbas :
BNP heavyweight Mirza Abbas-member of the party’s National Executive Committee, former Dhaka mayor, and former minister-is contesting from Dhaka-8. Standing firmly against him is NCP leader Nasir Uddin Patwari, a frontline figure of the July Movement.
Although Mirza Abbas is a popular leader, he faces serious challenges.
During the campaign, July movement fighter and Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi was murdered. While no evidence has been found linking Mirza Abbas to the killing, Hadi’s followers continue to point fingers at him. Nasir Uddin Patwari claims to be a follower of Hadi, further complicating the contest.
As a result, despite BNP’s strong vote bank, Abbas’s supporters are unable to feel fully confident. Controversies-including egg-throwing during Nasir’s campaign-have persisted. NCP supporters believe Patwari will secure victory by relying on young voters, while BNP activists hope Mirza Abbas will have the last laugh.
Salahuddin Also Under Pressure : Parliamentary seat No. 294 is Cox’s Bazar-1, where BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed is contesting. The constituency consists of Chakaria and Pekua and has 540,490 voters. Jamaat alliance candidate Abdullah Faruk is a local-level leader.
Although Salahuddin is highly popular, he cannot be free of tension. He was unable to remain in the country for a long time, spending almost the entire Sheikh Hasina regime abducted in India. Opponents are spreading various forms of propaganda about this period to discredit him. Meanwhile, Jamaat’s candidate has carried out extensive grassroots work during Salahuddin’s long absence.
Analysts believe that Salahuddin will come under serious pressure only if Jamaat succeeds in attracting Awami League votes.