Probable candidates from the Awami League are gearing up their election campaigns in Sylhet 2 constituency as the ruling party bids to steal the seat from the Jatiya Party (JaPa) at the upcoming general election.
The candidates are participating in public functions and have already pasted colourful banners, posters, festoons and graffiti to help promote their particular electoral pledges and sway undecided voters.
The constituency, which covers Osmani Nagar and parts of Biswanath Balaganj area and has a total of 322,528 registered voters, is currently represented in parliament by JaPa leader M Yahya Chowdhury.
While he has resolved to retain his seat at the election, he faces an internal challenge for the JaPa ticket from former MP Moksud Ibne Aziz Lama, former central leader Gias Uddin, Abdullah Siddiqi, and US expatriate Mahbubur Rahman.
The Awami League is determined to gain the seat from JaPa - its current partner in the 14-party alliance.
Although M Yahya Chowdhury has said his party is in alliance with AL “for the interest of the nation”, Awami League’s district unit Office Secretary Aktaruzzaman Chowdhury Joglu said the central leaders would decide whether the alliance would remain in existence or not.
Among the six candidates hoping to contest the polls in the constituency for the ruling party, the former lawmaker and the party’s Sylhet district unit general secretary, Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, is perhaps the most experienced.
Also in contention are the former district unit president, ANM Shafiqul Haq; the party’s UK wing joint general secretary, Anwaruzzaman Chawdhury; the district unit deputy office secretary, Aktaruzzman Chowdhury Joglu; the district unit adviser, SM Nunu Mian; and the former Biswanath Upazila Parishad chairman, Muhibur Rahman.
Sources said as the late December vote draws nearer, the prospective ruling party candidates are becoming more active, with some gearing up their public and social contacts to contest the polls.
However, aspiring candidates ofJaPa, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis and other parties have not even managed to put up posters in weekly markets and local bazars to announce their platforms for nomination.
From BNP, sources say Tahsina Rushdi Luna - the wife of former BNP lawmaker Ilias Ali, who has been missing since 2012 - is likely to take part in the election.
Luna has said that since Sylhet 2 was her husband’s constituency, she frequently communicates with his followers.
For Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, leader M Muntasir Ali is seeking the nomination to contest the poll.
Khorsheda Akter, a lecturer of a local college, said female voters in the constituency wanted to elect a person who would work for the development of women and children.
Sirajul Haque, principal of Biswanath College, said Sylhet 2 voters wanted to elect a representative who would work to ensure their security of life and education.
