In the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections, independent candidates, particularly women, are actively participating alongside established political parties.
In Tangail, three women candidates are vying for election by competing directly with male candidates, choosing not to contest in the designated women's seats.
The three women candidates — Sarwat Siraj Shukla, an independent candidate in Tangail-4 (Kalihati); Rupa Roy Chowdhury of Bangladesh Congress (Coconut) in Tangail-7 (Mirzapur); and Parul in Tangail-8 (Sakhipur-Basail) — are engaged in the competition for three of the eight seats in Tangail.
A total of 19 male candidates are in the fray for the three seats against them.
Sarwat Siraj Shukla
Sarwat Siraj Shukla is the daughter of former minister Shahjahan Siraj. She is a Supreme Court lawyer.
"The way the people of Kalihati stood beside my father Shahjahan Siraj, they will also be by my side. I will definitely work to make Kalihati an upazila free from drugs, terrorism and discrimination. If I win, I will first build a hospital for children and women. I am 100% hopeful that the people of Kalihati will vote for me,” she said.
Some of the candidates who are also fighting for the seat are Awami League's expelled presidium member Abdul Latif Siddique, Awami League nominated candidate Mozharul Islam Talukder Thandu, Zaker Party's Montaj Ali, Jatiya Party's Liaquat Ali.
Rupa Roy Chowdhury
Rupa Roy Chowdhury is a homemaker. She is the daughter of Anil Moishal and the wife of Himanshu Shekhar Roy Chandan.
Previously, she had contested in the Union Parishad polls once, and once in a by-polls.
Despite facing defeat each time, she is determined to participate in the parliamentary elections.
The Coconut symbol candidate said: "I desire to serve the people. I believe that the people will allow me to serve. If I win, I will build Mirzapur as a smart upazila. If there is a free and fair election, I am hopeful that I will win by a huge margin.”
Awami League nominated candidate Khan Ahmed Shuvo, three-time upazila parishad chairman, and independent candidate Mir Enayet Hossain Montu, are in the fray for the seat as well.
Parul
Parul is a candidate for Trinamool BNP in the Tangail-8 constituency.
She is the wife of Lokman Hossain of Golra village in Kalihati upazila. She is an unknown name in Sakhipur-Basail. However, she is determined to change the constituency for the better.
She said: "I have become a candidate to make the two upazilas beautiful by removing injustice, and corruption. If the people of the two upazilas vote for me, I will be dedicated to human welfare.”
Some of the candidates who are also fighting for the seat are Awami League's Anupam Shahjahan Joy, and Jatiya Party's Rezaul Karim.
The 12th national polls is scheduled to be held on January 7.
