Political parties have kicked off campaigning ahead of the upcoming general election in Sumanganj-2 constituency.
The area, comprising Derai and Sullahupazilas, has traditionally been an Awami League (AL) stronghold.
Dr. Jaya Sengupta, wife of late veteran AL leader SuranjitSengupta has been representing the party in the National Parliament from Sunamganj-2 constituency since 2017.
Election Commissioner MdAnisur Rahman on Saturday said the 12th JatiyaSangsad elections will be held in the first week of January, 2024 and the schedule will be announced in November next.
Therefore, like other constituencies in the country, the race for nomination has also garnered significant hype in Sunamganj-2 as the aspirants believe the next polls will be held on time.
Leaders of AL Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya Party and other political parties have started preparing the ground for the upcoming parliamentary elections as the next elections will be very competitive.
Only those who can prove their worth for this competitive election will be nominated.
The incumbent lawmaker Jaya Sengupta has already expressed her willingness to contest the upcoming national election.
“I shall seek party nomination to contest the next general election. I’m confident if I get a party ticket I will win the seat again,” she told local journalists during an exchange of views at Derai upazila AL office recently.
She said the people of Dirai-Shalla elected her husband SuranjitSengupta Member of Parliament (MP) in second, third, fifth, seventh and eighth, ninth and 10th JatiyaSangsad elections.
“The people of the constituency have also elected me twice. So, the Sen family is accountable to the people of Derai-Sulla. I want to work for the people of the area till the end of my life,” she added.
Expressing her firm determination Jaya Sengupta said she along with AL leaders and workers are in the field to ensure the victory of the boat in the upcoming 12th general poll.
“But, the agents of BNP-Jamaat are still conspiring to remove the Sen family from politics. But, the clique failed to do so as the local people love us,” she added.
“Leaders and workers of Awami League are united. They want to see me MP again as they love my husband and me as well,” she said.
Besides, Sunamganj district AL Vice-President OboniMohon Das, Sullah upazila AL General Secretary and Sullah upazila Chairman Abdullah Al Mahmud alias Al Amin, Barrister Dalton Talukder Member, Law affairs Sub- Committee, AL, Sylhet AL city Office Secretary Shamsul Islam, ShamsulHaque Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi expatriate in the United Kingdom (UK) and Supreme Court lawyer Subir Nandi Das will also seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Talking to reporters, Abdullah Al Mahmud said he has been working for the party and people of the constituency since long.
“I shall seek party nomination to contest the next poll. I hope the party high command will nominate the dedicated and tested leader in the upcoming national poll,” he added.
Dalton Talukder said he always stays beside the party and the local people as well during any crisis period.
“I had sought nomination twice. I shall seek nomination again to contest the next national poll,” he added.
On the other hand, former lawmaker Nasir Uddin Chowdhury will seek the BNP nomination to contest the next general election.
He was elected MP from the Sunamganj-2 seat for the Jatiya Party in the June 1996 7th parliamentary elections.
Later, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury joined the BNP and became the central member of the party.
Apart from him (Nasir Uddin) Sunamganj district unit BNP Advisor Tahir Rayhan Chowdhury Pavel also wants a party ticket to contest the next general election if BNP joins the poll.
Talking to journalists, Tahir Rayhan Chowdhury Pavel said his family has been involved in BNP politics for long.
“If my party (BNP) joins the poll, I will seek nomination. And I’m confident I will win the poll,” he added.
As the battle to get a party ticket among the probable candidates is getting fierce, the top district leaders of AL and BNP have also intensified their efforts to contain intra-party conflicts and strengthen their parties’ organisational capacity.
They all are holding views-exchange meetings, discussions and various programmes with grassroots leaders and activists to make them united and motivated for working for the candidates who will bag their respective party tickets.
However, leaders of other parties, including the opposition Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, JatiyaSamajtantrik Dal (JSD) have not launched campaigns yet in the constituency.
On the other side, BNP aspirants are also staging demonstrations, rallies and meetings as part of their ‘one-point’ movement with the goal to remove the AL from power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government.
The nomination seekers have set up big banners and posters at the important points in the constituency, intersections of highways and roads, and on boundary walls.
The government has constructed different educational institutions, mosques, temples, rural roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructures in Sunamganj -2.
The construction of the roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructures has improved rural communication networks to facilitate farm and non-farm economy and upgraded the life standard of rural people through providing easier and quicker access to basic service delivery centers like schools and hospitals in this constituency.
Local people said they will cast their votes in favour of a candidate who sacrifices in realising their rights and for continuity of the current development spree in their constituency.
