The Awami League and main opposition BNP will both have to choose from five candidates in the Chuadanga 1 constituency which has been held since 2008 by the ruling party.
The Chuadanga 1 seat consists of 20 unions and two municipalities of Sadar and Alamdanga upazilas under Chuadanga district, and has 426,991 registered voters.
The incumbent MP, Solaiman Haque Joarder Selun, was first elected to parliament in 2008 and retained his seat unopposed in 2014.
“I am well associated with the people in the area,” he said. “I am regularly participating in various meetings, assembly and different party programs in the electoral areas.”
Joarder, who is also a parliament whip, said all the development of the region was attained under the Awami League government.
"With the long withstanding struggle and sacrifice of the Awami League government, Sadar-Alamdanga upazilas of Chuadanga have made extensive development in multiple regions,” he said.
“(This includes) constructing bridges and roads, improving health and education, and promoting sports by building a quality stadium.
"BNP-Jamaat are bound to be envious of the current government's success as they have shown failure in the development of this region.”
Joarder said he been nominated twice by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and was elected MP by the people on both occasions.
“If I receive the nomination, I will win this seat as a present to the prime minister,” he said.
Challengers
MP Solaiman Haque Joarder Selun is likely to be challenged all the way for the ruling party ticket by Dr Mahbub Hossain Mehedi, who has been talking up his own chances.
“I have been campaigning seeking votes from my area as per the instructions of the prime minister,” he said. “I am quite certain that I will be nominated.”
Another potential candidate is eminent young industrialist and Awami League leader, Dilip Kumar Agarwala.
He said he has been proceeding with development activities in the region, prioritizing the grassroots leader and activists.
"I believe I will be the one to be nominated,” he said. “However, if the party decides to nominate someone else, I will work on their behalf to help lead Awami league to victory."
Other candidates vying for the Awami League nomination in Chuadanga 1 constituency are the central Juba League presidium member and district council chairman, Sheikh Shamsul Abedin Khokon; the Chuadanga municipality mayor, Obaidur Rahman Chowdhury Jipu; and the senior vice president of District Awami League and the Sadar Upazila chairman, Asadul Haque Biswas.
“I have been active in the field of politics and played a significant role in the development of the area while I was upazila chairman,” Biswas said.
BNP
Among the leading candidates for the BNP nomination in Chuadanga 1 is the central committee vice-chairman and two-time former MP, Shamsuzzaman Dudu.
“If BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia deems me capable, then I will be able to implement my goals for developing Alamdanga,” he said. “I want to eliminate unemployment in the area and work by the side of the common people.”
Dudu said BNP is one of the major people-oriented political parties in Bangladesh “Therefore without BNP there will be no election,” he said. “The autocratic government has deprived the people of Chuadanga sadar and Alamdanga upazila of their rights.”
Another BNP contender for the seat is District BNP Convener Ohidul Islam Biswas.
He said the candidates are following the instructions of jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, with the goal of consolidating the party’s position during the election.
"Currently, many of our leaders and activists are in jail. Although, there is no dissent, there are favouritisms,” he said.
"The BNP has a significant vote bank in this area, and the ruling party is presently suffering from internal disputes. If we can utilize these two factors, BNP will surely win in Chuadanga 1 constituency."
Other aspiring nominees for the main opposition party are BNP leader Lt Colonel (Retd) Kamruzzaman, district BNP Joint Convener Abdul Jabbar Sona, former joint secretary of cabinet division Dr MA Shabuj, Alamdanga municipality former mayor Mir Mohiuddin, and young BNP leader Sharifuzzaman Sharif.
Others
The contenders have already started campaigning to make their presence known to the public.
They are seeking support from the party leaders and activists as well as promoting their credentials through billboards and posters. Simultaneously, they have been arranging view exchange programs and open public rallies in different regions, bazaars and villages.
However, no candidates from Jatiya Party (Ershad), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, or Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) have so far been sighted during the campaign.
For Jatiya Party, there is speculation that Advocate Sohrab Hossain will stand while M Sabed Ali is a favourite name of JSD.
