A total of 54 leaders of the ruling Awami League are seeking nominations from six constituencies in the Khulna division for the January 7 election.
Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, member of parliament from Khulna-2, is the lone aspirant in the seat this time, while there are multiple aspirants in each of the other five constituencies. There are 15 aspirants in Khulna-6, according to sources.
There are rumours that the party high command will change its candidates for several constituencies in Khulna in the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections. Several current MPs have given rise to many controversies. It has been learned that the party is looking for popular candidates with a clean image in these constituencies.
From Khulna-1 (Dakop-Batiaghata) constituency, Whip Panchanan Biswas, former MP Nani Gopal Mandal, and reserved seat MP Advocate Gloria Jharna Sarkar have sought nominations.
The others seeking party candidature from the seat include Batiaghata Upazila Chairman Ashraful Alam Khan, local AL leaders Binoy Krishna Roy, Nantu Roy, Shrimant Adhikari Rahul, Sanat Kumar Biswas, Prashanta Kumar Roy, and Chalna Municipal Mayor Achintya Kumar Mondal, who are vying for the party ticket.
From Khulna-3 (Khalishpur and Daulatpur), State Minister of Labour and Employment Begum Monnuzan Sufian, Central Organizing Secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Metropolitan AL Member Professor Runu Iqbal Bithar, City AL Youth and Sports Affairs Secretary Farooq Hossain Hitlu, Daulatpur AL President Sheikh Syed Ali, and expatriate leader Sheikh Badal Ahmed have submitted nomination papers.
From Khulna-4 (Rupsa, Terkhada, and Dighlia), current MP Abdus Salam Murshedi is in a tight contest with district AL General Secretary Advocate Sujit Adhikari.
Expatriate AL leader Md Rizvi Alam, son of former MP (late) SM Mostafa Rashidi Souza, district AL Organizing Secretary SM Khalidin Rashidi Sukarna, and district AL Senior Joint General Secretary Sharfuddin Biswas Bachchu, have also sought party candidature.
The others seeking party tickets from the seat are Kamruzzaman Jamal, City Juba League president Shafikur Rahman Palash, Juba League leader Noor Alam, and former Additional Inspector General of Police Maruf Ahmed.
From Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Phultala), former lawmaker Narayan Chandra, district Lawyers Association President and Sadar Thana AL President Advocate Saiful Islam, and former UP chairman Md Mustafa Sarwar are among the party aspirants.
The others seeking party tickets from the constituency are Information and Research Secretary of District AL Ajay Sarkar, Bangabandhu Parishad Vice President Md Mahabub-ul Islam, BMA Salam, Dr Gani Molla, Sardar Abu Saleh, Engineer Mrinal Kanti Joardar, Sheikh Akram Hossain, Advocate Pratap Kumar Roy, Ajgar Biswas Tara, and Chaitali Halder.
From Khulna-6 (Koyra-Paikgasa), current MP Akhtaruzzaman Babu and former MP Advocate Sohrab Ali Sana are among those vying for party tickets this time. District AL Joint Secretary Kamruzzaman Jamal, Organizing Secretary Engineer Prem Kumar Mandal, Industry and Commerce Affairs Secretary Sheikh Rashedul Islam Russell, Koira AL President GM Mohsin Reza, and Upazila Chairman SM Shafiqul Islam have sought party candidature from the seat as well.
The other leaders seeking party tickets from the constituency are Sheikh Monirul Islam, Paikgasa Upazila Chairman Anwarul Iqbal Montu, district AL Health Affairs Secretary Muhammad Shahidullah, Engineer GM Mahbubul Alam, former Paikgasa Upazila Unit AL president Rashiduzzaman Moral, Khairul Alam, SM Saifullah Al Mamun, and Juba League leader SM Raju.
