Nearly a dozen leaders of the Awami League and its allies and Jatiya Party (JaPa) started electioneering after the BNP's lawmakers from two constituencies in Bogra resigned from the Parliament on Sunday.
All the aspirants, including the two close contestants, are hopeful of winning the seats, regarded as strongholds of the BNP, and contacted their partys' high command for nomination. The by-election was the talk of the town on Sunday.
Golam Mohammad Siraj from Bogra-6 (Sadar), Md Mosharrof Hossain from Bogra-4 (Kahalu-Nandigram), and other party colleagues tendered their resignation letters to Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury around 12:30pm.
Since the speaker accepted their letters, the seats fell vacant immediately. The Election Commission will hold by-polls within 90 days, as per the law.
In Bogra-6 constituency, district Awami League Vice President T Zaman Niketa, who was defeated by Siraj in 2018, other Vice President advocate Rezaul Karim Montu, and General Secretary Ragebul Ahsan Ripu, JaPa district unit General Secretary and former MP Nurul Islam Omar and several other politicians are likely to contest the polls. Before Siraj, former prime minister Khaleda Zia won this seat several times.
On the other hand, prospective candidates for the Bogra-4 seat are Bogra district unit Awami League Executive Member Principal Ahsanul Haque, Kahalu Upazila Awami League Vice President Kamal Uddin Kaviraj, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Central Vice President and former MP Rezaul Karim Tansen.
In the last election, held on December 30, 2018, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir contested from Oikya Front and elected a member of Parliament. But since he did not take oath, the seat fell vacant.
BNP leader Siraj won the by-election on June 24 using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Defeated candidate Awami League's T Zaman Niketa is seeking the party's nomination to change the fate of the people. “The BNP has cheated the people by nominating a candidate from outside,” he claimed.
Two other senior leaders of the district unit -- Ripu and Montu -- said they would seek nomination this time.
In Bogra-4 constituency, grand alliance leader JaSaD's Rezaul Karim Tansen lost to BNP's Mosharraf Hossain in 2018. YouTuber Ashraful Islam alias Hero Alam was among the other candidates.
Ahsanul Haque, a potential candidate in the upcoming by-elections, promises immense development in the area, if elected. Former MP Tansen said he would seek nomination this time because he had done significant development activities during his tenure.
