Barisal 1 constituency is considered an Awami League stronghold for upcoming 11th national poll as only the ruling party prospective candidates are seen busy on the public relations to woo voters.
Streets are decorated with billboards, festoons, and banners featuring nomination-aspirants; while the aspirants are attending social and religious gatherings.
The constituency consists of Agailjhara and Gournadi upazilas.
In total, there are 257,220 voters and 115 voting centers in the constituency.
Awami League led 14-party men are conducting rallies and public gatherings jointly to woo the voters.
On the other hand, most of the BNP leaders and activists are in jail or busy in the court proceeding .
Moreover, due to internal conflicts in local BNP, the high command could not make any decision.
Awami League leaders and activists are working hard to ensure victory.
In addition, if BNP jointly works with their alliance in upcoming election, there are high chances for Jamaat-e-Islami candidate to win the election as they have reserve votes.
Awami League aspirants
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cousin, Abul Hasnat Abdullah is the probable candidate in the constituency. He is the son of Shaheed Abdur Rab Serniabat.
He became Chief Whip after winning the 1996 parliamentary elections from this constituency.
However, in 2001 national elections, Abul Hasanat Abdullah lost to BNP candidate Zahir Uddin Swapan and had left Barisal.
During the BNP tenure, several cases were filed against him. He was sentenced to 33-year jail. For this, he could not participate in the 9th parliament election.
District Awami League General Secretary Talukder Mohammad won the seat in the 9th parliamentary election defeating BNP candidate Abdus Sobhan.
Hassanat returned to Barisal on October 13, 2009 after the Awami League government came to power and withdrew the case against him.
In the last national polls, he again became MP without contest from this constituency.
He is a popular leader the district. According to local Awami League leaders and activists, Abul Hasanat Abdullah is now the guardian of Barisal Awami League.
Abul Hasnat Abdullah played a vital role in making his son, Serniabat Sadik, mayor of Barisal City Corporation. He has great influence in the region.
His followers claimed that no one from Awami League or from the grand alliance is expecting nomination except Abul Hasnat.
Gournadi upazila Awami League General Secretary and Municipal Mayor Harshur Rahman Harish said, “There is no conflict in the party in this constituency. Under the leadership of Abul Hassanat Abdullah, the guardian of Barishal Awami League, the party is well organized. He has support from the people.”
BNP aspirants
BNP nominations aspirants are: Central BNP's Co-Organizing Secretary Akon Kuddusur Rahman, BNP Executive Committee Member Engineer Abdus Sobhan, Central Committee Member Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam, and former MP Zahiruddin Swapan.
In 1991 parliamentary elections, because of internal conflicts, BNP Vice-President Quazi Golam Mahabub lost to Abul Hasnat by the margin of 8842 votes.
Zahir Uddin Swapan, a former student leader who joined BNP in 1993, defeated Abul Hasnat Abdullah by 14031 votes.
In 2008 national elections, BNP Central Committee Member Engineer Abdus Sobhan got the party's nomination.
Because of the internal conflict between Swapan and Sobhan, Awami League candidate Talukdar Md Yunus defeated BNP candidate Abdus Sobhan by 27,276 votes in 2008.
Regarding violence in the party Barisal North District BNP President Mizbah Uddin Farhad said, “There might be disagreements as we are a big party. However, this will not affect our supporters. All odds will be removed before the election."
On the other hand Jamaat-e-Islami might get nomination if BNP decides to contest in the elections without them.
Islami Andolan
Islami Andolan Bangladesh local leader Mehedi Hasan Russell is trying to get nomination from this constituency.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh Barisal district General Secretary Maulana Mohammad Siraj said, “Mehedi Hasan Russell is the President of the party's Agaylaljhara upazila unit. We are conducting rallies and mass gatherings for the upcoming national elections and we are hopeful that people of the constituency will elect our candidate.”