The people of Ramgoti and Kamalnagar upazilas of Lakshmipur 4 constituency, near the banks of the Meghna River, have been struggling through natural disasters like flood and land erosion for the last few years.
Thousands from this region batle with nature for their daily livelihoods. With the election ahead, to gain the support of the voters, candidates have focused their electoral campaigns on development work that will reduce the suffering of those affected by land erosion.
Candidates from the two major parties, the Awami League and BNP, and other heavyweight political individuals, have increased their contact with senior central leaders in the hopes of securing a nomination. At the same time, they are going door-to-door, asking for the public’s votes.
The main election battle in the Lakshmipur 4 constituency will ensue between the candidates of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance and BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Candidates from Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasa and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have started campaigning by attending different meetings and seminars. They have also started promoting themselves on banners and posters.
Jasad, AL
The first person to hoist the flag of independent Bangladesh, President of central Jasad ASM Abdur Rob was once elected as an opposition leader during the Ershad-led government.
He became a minister under the Awami League government after winning the seat in the seventh election in 1996. Rob will participate in the coming election as well.
However, in the 10th election held in 2014, Md Abdullah Al Mamun – the current MP from this constituency – won representing the Awami League.
Since then, Abdullah has been working towards the development of Ramgoti and Kamalnagar upazilas. The first phase of a 5.5km embankment project – approved by Ecnec and worth Tk1,349 crore – was eventually completed at a total cost of Tk2,000 crore.
Recently, during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Lakshmipur, Abdullah got the approval for the allocation of the budget required to complete the second phase of the project.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Md Abdullah Al Mamun said: "The people from this region mainly demand steps be taken to prevent land erosion. To this end, the Awami League government has already finished the first phase of a project by spending Tk2,000 crore—and has promised to start the work on the second phase."
Abdullah stated that the development that the Lakshmipur 4 constituency has achieved during the Awami League regime had not been achieved in the last 40 years prior. "I had stayed, and will stay beside the people from this region," he said.
Abdullah has been working with leaders and activists from each union and ward, of the Ramgoti and Kamalnagar upazilas, to ensure victory for Awami League, he told this correspondent.
"If I am nominated, I am certain of my victory," he said.
Another hopeful candidate, Managing Secretary for Relief and Disaster Management of central Awami League Faridunnahar Laili, is from Noakhali Sadar upazila. A freedom fighter, Laili is the former MP for the constituency’s seat reserved for women.
"I have been engaged in politics since I was a student," Laili told the Dhaka Tribune. "I was twice elected as the vice-president of Shamsunnahar Hall in Chittagong University, and formerly represented this constituency, from the reserved seat for women, in Ramgoti upazila."
Laili said the people of Ramgoti upazila want her to clinch a nomination, and if the prime minister thinks she is worthy of one, she will run for election this time around as well.
The other Awami League candidates hoping to get a nomination are: Azad Uddin Chowdhury, locally known as the "landless leader"; Vice-President of Lakshmipur district Awami League Advocate Mahbubur Rahman; Joint General Secretary of Dhaka city Jubo League (North) Md Tabirul Haque Onu; and Deputy Secretary of Awami League Sports Committee Abu Zaher Saju.
BNP
This year, twice-elected MP and central BNP leader Ashraf Uddin Nizam is hoping to secure a BNP nomination.
"The people of Lakshmipur know about my honesty and capability," he said while speaking to the Dhaka Tribune. "I have broken all previous records in developing the roads and infrastructure of Lakshmipur. Even now, I am thinking about helping the victims of land erosion."
Nizam is prioritizing his efforts in fighting the cases lodged against 5,390 BNP leaders and activists.
"If BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia or acting chairman Tarique Rahman thinks I am worthy, they will nominate me, so I can continue working for the betterment of both party and the people," he said.
Another BNP nomination-seeker, central President of Sechchasebak Dal Shafiul Bari Babu said he is working to recover the democracy envisioned by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
"I was involved with Chhatra Dal politics in my student life," he told this correspondent. "After acting as the president of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal and the organizational secretary of the central committee, I am now serving as its general secretary."
He hoped that his desire to recover democracy by participating in the next election will secure him a nomination for the Lakshmipur 4 constituency.
Meanwhile, Vice-President of Tati Dal Abdul Matin Chowdhury, another hopeful candidate of BNP, has established mosques and madrasas, and helped distribute aid among those who have lost everything due to land erosion.
"There have been 30 cases falsely lodged against me in Dhaka, but I am still continuing my political career," he said. "I am hopeful my efforts will be recognized by the party, and I will be given a nomination."
