Six candidates of the ruling Awami League and BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance in Khulna 5 (Dumuria-Phultola) constituency are campaigning silently for the 11th national elections slated for December.
All of them are eager to get party tickets and want to compete in the polls.
The political arena of the constituency has started simmering with public campaigns.
There is a dispute among local Awami League activists as well as among the BNP-Jamaat alliance.
The feud is likely to surface and some fear the rivals will clash before the elections.
The prospective candidates are: State Minister for the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Awami League’s Dumuria upzila unit president Narayan Chandra Chanda, Khulna district Bangabandhu Parishad Vice President M Mahbub-ul Islam, former Jamaat MP Golam Porwar, BNP Khulna district unit’s Vice President Gazi Abdul Haque, BNP National Executive Committee Member Mamun Rahman, Dumuria upazila parishad Chairman and local BNP leader Khan Ali Munsur.
Narayan was elected an MP in the by-election after the death of former health and family- planning minister Salauddin Yusuf.
He lost the 2001 national election.
During the 9th national election, in 2008, he was elected an MP and during the 10th national election in 2013 he was elected an MP without contest.
According to the grassroots, currently Narayan has become involved in an internal feud.
M Mahbub-ul Islam is running a campaign at the field level to get the nomination from his constituency.
He is already ahead with his campaigning, grassroots leaders said.
The chief of Khulna district’s Bangabandhu Parishad said he is trying to stay with the people in different activities of the area.
“I will seek nomination for the upcoming election. If I am nominated, I hope to win,” Mahbub said.
However, Narayan is also upbeat over getting party nomination.
He says that if he gets nomination he will be re-elected and able to complete his development projects.
Jamaat leader Golam Porwar beat Awami League’s Narayan in the 2001 national election. This time he is seeking the nomination of the BNP-led alliance.
But there is more than one BNP candidate expecting a nomination.
BNP does not want to give Jamaat a chance and if the alliance contests in the election, Golam Porwar will likely get the nomination.
BNP Khulna district unit’s Vice President Gazi Abdul Haque said both the government and the Election Commission will have to create a congenial atmosphere to hold a free and fair election.
They will have to restore the people’s confidence, he said.
If the party decides to contest in the polls, Abdul and another local BNP leader, Mamun Rahman, will seek the nomination.
BNP Dumuria upazila unit President Khan Ali Munsur said there is no chance the party will participate in the polls with party Chairperson Khaleda Zia behind bars.
But they are prepared to participate in the polls, he said.
Munsur said he will seek the nomination if the party goes to the polls—and is hopeful to get voters’ support.
