Leaders of the ruling Awami League and opposition in parliament, Jatiya Party, are busy campaigning for the upcoming national election in Joypurhat 1 constituency.
Though BNP is waiting for a decision from the party’s top brass about whether to participate in the election, the nomination-aspirants are interacting with the public.
Both Awami League and BNP have multiple nomination-seekers and there is rivalry among them.
Consisting of Joypurhat sadar and Panchbibi upazilas this constituency has a total of 398,979 voters.
Awami League frontrunners
Awami League won the constituency in the previous election but before that, it was a BNP stronghold.
Incumbent MP Shamsul Alam Dudu is again seeking the party’s nomination.
He is facing several senior and junior aspirant-candidates, including: the party’s district unit Vice President Khaza Shamsul Alam, Public Prosecutor Nripendranath Mandal, sadar upazila unit’s General Secretary Zohurul Islam, Panchbibi upzila unit’s General Secretary Habibur Rahman Habib, district unit’s Joint General Secretary Mostafizur Rahman Mostak, and district unit’s leader Toufidul Islam Bulbul.
These nomination-seekers are campaigning by putting up billboards, banners, and festoons—as well as interacting with the public.
BNP nomination-seekers
Joypurhat 1 was a BNP stronghold until 2008 and this election, the party wants to regain its bastion.
The party’s leadership is mired in a feud. However, recently the situation has improved and the leaders and activists have united more than before and attended all party events together.
Those who are vying for BNP’s nomination include: the party’s district unit acting President Momtaz Uddin Mondal, former general secretary Fazlur Rahman, Joint General Secretary Masud Rana Prodhan, General Secretary Nafizur Rahman Palash, and the party’s central committee member Faisal Alim.
Aspirants of Jatiya Party and other parties
Jatiya Party’s district unit General Secretary ASM Moktadir Titas was a candidate of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance—to run for the previous election. However, later he sacrificed his candidacy for the Awami League candidate.
The party has almost decided to nominate him. Titas has already started campaigning in this regard.
Apart from these three parties, Jamaat-e-Islami district unit Chief Fazlur Rahman Sayeed is vying for a nomination.
However, no campaign activities have been undertaken by aspirants of other parties.