Fierce competition is likely for some seats between the Awami League’s candidates and independents from the same party in Sunday’s general election.
As a result, 15 ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers may find it tough to win the election.
Over 100 seats out of 299 seats are being contested by independent candidates from the ruling party. Eighteen people who won the race to parliament as Awami League candidates in the last election are contesting the polls this time as independents with different symbols against Boat.
Awami League heavyweights, including ministers of education, fisheries, industries, food, textiles and jute, and the state minister for foreign affairs are among candidates facing this competition.
According to sources, most of these independent candidates are influential leaders at the local level of the Awami League. Having been denied party nomination several times, they are taking part in the election independently.
Independent candidate Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung (Murad) is contesting the polls from Dhaka-19 and is likely to prove a strong competitor for Awami League candidate State Minister for Relief and Disaster Management Mohammed Enamur Rahman.
The Awami League's candidate for Gazipur-1 is Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque. Meanwhile, an independent candidate for this seat is Rezaul Karim, general secretary of Kaliakair upazila Awami League.
In Chandpur-3 (Chandpur Sadar and Haimchar upazila), Education Minister Dipu Moni, joint general secretary of the Awami League, is the ruling party’s candidate. An independent candidate for this seat is former president of Chandpur Awami League Mohammed Shamsul Hoque Bhuiyan. One group of district Awami League leaders are on his side and another is in favour of Dipu Moni.
The Awami League's candidate for Pirojpur-1 (Pirojpur Sadar, Nazirpur and Indurkhani) is Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim. Pirojpur Awami League President and former member of parliament AKMA Abdul Awal is an independent candidate for this seat.
Awami League candidate for Narsingdi-4 (Belabo-Manohardi) is Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun. Saiful Islam Khan, five-time chairman of Manohardi upazila parishad, is an independent candidate for this seat.
In Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj), Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi is facing strong competition from party colleague Rupganj Awami League General Secretary Shahajahan Bhuiyan as an independent candidate.
Lalmonirhat Awami League Vice President Sirajul Haque is an independent candidate competing with Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed in Lalmonirhat-2 (Aditmari and Kaliganj). Nuruzzaman Ahmed's younger brother, Kaliganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Mahbubuzzaman Ahmed, has been supporting the independent candidate.
In Naogaon-1, Boat candidate Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar will have a tough fight against independent candidate Niamatpur upazila Awami League former vice president and Chandannagar Union Parishad Chairman Khalekuzzaman Tota.
In Netrokona-2 (Netrokona Sadar and Barhatta upazilas), State Minister for Social Welfare Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru could face a strong challenge from independent candidate and former deputy minister of youth and sports Arif Khan Joy.
In Rajshahi-6, the Awami League has Shahriar Alam, the state minister for foreign affairs. His strongest rival is independent candidate Raihanul Haque Thandu.
In Natore-3, Awami League candidate Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the state minister for the ICT Division, will be against Shafiqul Islam, the recently resigned chairman of Singra upazila parishad and an independent candidate.
The Awami League's candidate for Habiganj-4 is State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali. Former Jubo League leader Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman is an independent candidate for this seat.
In Jamalpur-2, the Awami League's candidate is Faridul Haque Khan, state minister for religious affairs. Jamalpur Awami League Advisor Ziaul Haque and Shahjahan Ali Mondal are independent candidates for this seat. Mustafa Al Mahmoud of the Jatiya Party is also contesting the polls from here.
Former presidents of Meherpur Awami League and former MPs Abdul Mannan and Zainal Abedin are contesting the election as independent candidates against State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain in Meherpur-1.
In Shariatpur-2, Jubo League Presidium Member Khaled Shawkat Ali, who is contesting the polls as an independent candidate, is the rival of Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem, the candidate for the Awami League.
It should be noted three Awami League Cabinet members–State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian, and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain–did not receive Awami League nominations.
