The highest number of independent MP hopefuls–61 to be exact–emerged victorious in Sunday’s election, setting a new record in Bangladesh’s political history.
In the 1973 general election, five independents secured victory, followed by 16 in 1979, 32 in 1986, 25 in 1988, three in 1991, 10 in 1986, one in 1996, seven in 2001, four in 2008, 16 in 2014, and three in 2018.
The ruling Awami League had given a chance to its leaders to run as independents so that no one could be elected unopposed in the polls. As a result, many popular leaders of the party took part in the election as independents–and against party candidates for around 225 seats.
Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman secured the Habiganj-4 seat defeating Awami League candidate State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali.
In Jessore-5, Swapan Bhattacharjee, state minister for rural development and cooperatives, was beaten by Yakub Ali.
Awami League candidate for Dhaka-19 Md Enamur Rahman, state minister for disaster management and relief, suffered defeat at the hands of Md Saiful Islam.
Joya Sengupta, wife of the late Awami League politician Suranjit Sengupta, bested ruling party candidate Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mahmood in Sunamganj-2.
Hasanul Haq Inu, president of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, contesting the election with the Awami League’s Boat symbol in Kushtia-2, was defeated by Kamrul Arefin.
In Pirojpur-2, the JP’s Anwar Hossain Manju, participating in the polls with Boat, was beaten by Mohiuddin Maharaj.
Awami League candidate Anupam Shahjahan Joy got the better of Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique in Tangail-8.
Awami League candidate from Faridpur-4 Kazi Zafarullah, a presidium member of the party, was defeated by independent candidate Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, alias Nixon Chowdhury.
Independent candidate from Madaripur-3 Tahmina Begum defeated Awami League candidate and sitting MP Abdus Sobhan Golap.
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader's wife Sharifa Quader lost to independent candidate Md Khosru Chowdhury, commerce and industries secretary of Dhaka North Awami League, in the Dhaka-18 seat.
MP Fazle Hossain Badsha, general secretary of the Workers’ Party contesting in the election with Boat in Rajshahi-2, was bested by independent candidate Shafikur Rahman Badsha.
Awami League candidate Momtaz Begum, popular singer and a three-time member of parliament, lost the election race in Manikganj-2 to independent candidate Dewan Zahid Ahmed Tulu.
AK Azad, who ran as an independent, won the Faridpur-3 seat defeating Awami League candidate Shamim Haque.
Meher Afroz Chumki, a former state minister, is among the incumbent Awami League lawmakers defeated in the polls, losing to independent candidate Akhtaruzzaman in Gazipur-5.
Lawmaker Ashim Kumar Ukil, Awami League cultural affairs secretary, was defeated by former MP Iftiquar Uddin Talukder in Netrokona-3.
In Munshiganj-3, Awami League candidate lawmaker Mrinal Kanti Das lost the election to independent candidate Mohammad Faisal.
Jatiya Party MP Rana Mohammad Sohail failed to secure another term losing to independent candidate Saddam Hossain Pavel in Nilphamari-3.
Ahsan Adelur Rahman, another JaPa MP, lost to independent candidate Siddikul Alam Siddik in Nilphamari-4.
In Kurigram-2, the JaPa lawmaker from Kurigram, Panir Uddin Ahamed, was defeated by independent candidate Hamidul Haque Khandkar.
Another JaPa MP to lose the election is Shameem Haider Patwary, being bested by independent candidate Abdullah Nahid Nigar in Gaibandha-1.
In Gaibandha-2, Shah Sarwar Kabir won the election against JaPa’s Abdur Rashid Sarker.
Rangpur-1 saw the defeat of JaPa lawmaker Md Mashiur Rahman Ranga at the hands of Asaduzzaman, who ran independently.
Zakir Hossain from Rangpur-5 won the polls against Boat’s Rashek Rahman.
Sultan Mahmud triumphed over the Awami League’s Nahid Morshed in Naogaon-4.
In Naogaon-6, independent candidate Omar Faruk won against Awami League MP Md Anwar Hossain Helal.
Md Shahidul Islam Bakul, the Awami League lawmaker from Natore-1, was defeated by independent Abul Kalam Azad.
In Bogra-3, two-time JaPa lawmaker Md Nurul Islam Talukder lost to Khan Mohammad Saifullah Mehedi.
Former MP Rezaul Haque Chowdhury secured the victory in Kushtia-1 against another independent candidate Nazmul Huda.
Former MP Abdur Rauf, running as an independent, defeated Awami League lawmaker Selim Altaf George in Kushtia-4.
In Jhenaidah-2, Nasser Shahrear Zahedee won against Boat’s Tahjib Alam Siddiki.
Swapan Bhattacharjee, state minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives, was defeated by independent candidate Yakub Ali in Jessore-5.
In Jessore-6, independent candidate Md Azizul Islam defeated Awami League lawmaker Md Shaheen Chaklader.
Four-time MP Dhirendro Debnath Shambhu lost the election to Golam Sarwar Tuku in Barguna-1.
In Barisal-4, Pankaj Debnath triumphed over JaPa’s Mizanur Rahman.
In Pirojpur-3, Shamim Shahnewaz defeated four-time MP Md Rustum Ali Faraji.
Independent candidate Amanur Rahman Khan Rana won the Tangail-3 seat defeating Awami League candidate Kamrul Hasan Rana.
In Tangail-5, Sanwar Hossain bested the Awami League’s Md Mamunor Rashid.
Md Sanwar Hossain defeated the ruling party’s Atiur Rahman Atik in Sherpur-1.
In Jamalpur-4, Abdur Rashid won the election against the Awami League-nominated Mahbubur Rahman Helal.
Md Sohrab Uddin emerged victorious in Kishoreganj-2 against the ruling party candidate, Abdul Kahar Akanda.
Mahmudul Haque Sayem won the election in Mymensingh-1 against Boat’s Jewel Areng.
In Mymensingh-5, Nazrul Islam defeated JaPa’s Salah Uddin.
The constituents of Mymensingh-6 elected Abdul Malek Sarker, choosing him over Boat’s Moslem Uddin.
ABM Anisuzzaman defeated the Awami League’s Ruhul Amin Madain to win the Mymensingh-7 seat.
In Mymensingh-8, Mahmud Hasan Suman won against JaPa’s Fakhrul Imam.
MA Wahed triumphed over the ruling party’s Kajim Uddin Ahmed in Mymensingh-11.
In Narsingdi-3, Sirajul Islam Mollah defeated Boat’s Fazle Rabbi Khan.
Expelled from the BNP, Syed AK Akramuzzam won the Brahmanbaria-1 seat prevailing over the Awami League’s GM Farhad Hossain.
Md Moin Uddin from Brahmanbaria-2 won against independent candidate Ziaul Haque Mridha.
Md Abdul Majid defeated Awami League candidate Selima Ahmad in Comilla-2.
In Comilla-3, Jahangir Alam secured the victory contesting the polls against Yusuf Abdullah Harun of the Awami League.
Abul Kalam Azad won the polls in Comilla-4 defeating Boat’s Raji Mohammad Fakhrul.
In a fight between two independents, MA Jaher emerged victorious against Sazzad Hossain in Comilla-5.
In Dinajpur-1, Md Zakaria defeated Boat’s Manoranjan Shil Gopal.
Salauddin Mahmud Jahid bested JaPa’s Md Jahirul Alam Rubel in Manikganj-1.
In Dhaka-4, Awlad Hossain prevailed over the Awami League-nominated Sanjida Khanam.
Mashiur Rahman Mollah in Dhaka-5 defeated the ruling party’s Harunur Rashid.
In Sylhet-5, Husamuddin Chowdhury won against Boat’s Masuk Uddin Ahmad.
Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury won in Habiganj-1 competing against JaPa’s MA Munim Chowdhury Babu.
In Lakshmipur-4, Md Abdullah defeated Boat’s Mosharraf Hossain.
Two independents fought over the Chittagong-8 seat with Abdus Salam emerging victorious against Bijoy Kumar Chowdhury.
In Chittagong-15, Abdul Motaleb won the polls against the Awami League’s Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi.
Mujibur Rahman won against another independent candidate, Abdullah Kabir, in Chittagong-16.
