The 12th National Election witnessed the defeat of several heavyweight candidates, including former ministers, current state ministers, and even party chiefs.
In a surprising turn of events, three state ministers were defeated by independent candidates from their own parties. Additionally, numerous current parliamentarians, including an Awami League presidium member, faced defeat against independent contenders.
Notable instances include Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman, a former central leader of the Jubo League, who defeated State Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali in Habiganj-4 constituency.
The State Minister for Rural Development and Co-operatives, Swapan Bhattacharjee, lost to independent candidate Yakub Ali in Jessore-5.
Other significant defeats include State Minister for Relief and Disaster Management Dr Enamur Rahman, who came in third in votes in the Dhaka-19 constituency.
Seven-time member of parliament (MP) and four-time minister, Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju, lost to independent candidate Mohiuddin Maharaj in Pirojpur-2.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSod) President Hasanul Haque Inu lost to independent candidate Kamarul Arefin in Kushtia-2.
Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafar Ullah has faced defeat for the third consecutive time in the Faridpur-4 constituency, losing to independent candidate Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, who is the current MP and also a member of the Awami Jubo League Presidium.
Folk singer Momtaz Begum, MP for Manikganj-2, lost the election too.
Fazle Hossain Badsha, who was elected three times as a MP from Rajshahi-2 constituency and is the general secretary of the Bangladesh Workers Party, faced defeat at the hands of an independent candidate.
Trinamool BNP chairman Samsher Mobin Chowdhury lost in Sylhet-6, and Mahi B Chowdhury, the current MP, faced defeat in Munshiganj-1.
Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, a five-time MP from Barguna-1, lost in this election.
Ashim Kumar Ukil, the current MP and cultural affairs secretary of the Awami League, was defeated in Netrokona-3 by the independent candidate Iftikhar Uddin Talukder.
Independent candidate Tahmina Begum defeated Awami League candidate Abdus Sobhan Mia (Golap) in Madaripur-3.
Awami League candidate Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadwi lost in Chittagong-15, and Awami League candidate Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury lost in Chittagong-16. Chowdhury had his candidacy cancelled by the Election Commission due to "gross violations of the electoral code of conduct." Independent candidate Mojibur Rahman won this seat.
Awami League candidate Shaheen Chakladar lost to independent candidate Azizul Islam in Jessore-6. In Gazipur-5, independent candidate Akhtaruzzaman defeated former state minister Meher Afroz.
Former state minister and independent candidate Murad Hasan lost in Jamalpur-4, while Abdur Rashid, another independent candidate of the Awami League, secured victory in this seat.
In Comilla, the present parliamentarians of the Awami League faced defeats in four out of 11 seats.
Selima Ahmad lost in Comilla-2, Yusuf Abdullah Harun lost in Comilla-3, Razi Mohammad Fakhrul lost in Comilla-4, and Abul Hashem lost in Comilla-5, all to independent candidates who are also leaders of the ruling Awami League.
