JP keen to retain stronghold

 Incumbent MP of Kishoreganj-3 (Karimganj-Tarail) constituency Jatiya Party secretary general Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu will make all-out effort to retain his membership of the parliament in the next national polls.

There are at least 12 aspirants from the ruling Awami League for the 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections. Although the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) field is not favourable the BNP leaders and activists are working here for their mere existence.

Kishoreganj-3 constitution cosists of Karimganj and Tarail upazilas. BNP won only two times in 11 elections including that of 15 February elections of 1996. But among the rest 9 elections Independent candidate won 1 time, Awami League three times, and the Jatiya Party (JP) highest 5 times. The JP won the election (seat) three with support from the Awami League as the alliance candidate. But the JP informed that they would not participate in the upcoming 12th JS polls as a alliance candidate.

According to a source of district Awami League, a full-fledget committee of Karimganj Upazila was not formed in the last 21 years. In the meantime, at least half percent members of the old committee died and the last conference of Tarail Upazila committee was held in 2013.

It is learnt that there are at least 20 aspirants for the upcoming national elections from the ruling Awami League. Of them, Kishoreganj district Awami League member Md Ershad Uddin, central Sweschhasebak League Labour Affairs Secretary Golam Kibria Bhuiyan, Karimganj Upazila Awami League convener Nasirul Islam Khan Awlad, and major (Retd) Nasimul Haque are very much interested to contest the polls on Awami League ticket. Besides, 15 to 20 aspirants are active on Facebook.

On the other hand, the BNP is only fighting for their existence during this ‘unfavourable’ situation. Former education minister and BNP leader Dr Osman Farook left the country in 2016 when the allegation of war crimes raised against him.

There was allegation that Dr Farook collaborated with the Pakistan army during the war of liberation in 1971 when he was a teacher of Mymensingh Agriculture University. Now vice-chairman of district BNP Jahangir Alam Mollah, removed chairman of Karimganj Upazila Parishad Saiful Islam Sumon and former president of district bar council Jalal Mohammad Gaus.

According to a source of district BNP, the party is interested to join in polls but not under this government. But former vice president of district BNP Jahangir Alam Mollah will be in the race if the party decides to take part in polls. He was also a candidate from the party in the 9th Jatiya Sangsad elections.

According to sources, there are 247666 voters in Karimganj Upazila and 136102 voters in Tarail Upazila.

Kishoreganj-3 MP and secretary general of Jatiya Party Mujibul Haque Chunnu said, “ Now we are not in the alliance and never think to join the alliance again rather thinking to field candidates in all the 300 constituencies of the Jatiya Sangsad in the coming national polls.”  

Jahangir Alam Mollah of BNP expressed the hope that if election is hold in a free, fair and impartial manner they must win the race.

District Awami League member Md Ershad Uddin said, “ If I get nomination I must win in this constituency and will try to set up industries here.”

Barrister Golam Kabir Bhuiyan of Sweschhasebok League said, “If I get nomination from the party and will contest the polls, I will try to free the constituency from terrorism, corruption and fundamentalism and create employment opportunities for the young generation.”

From the analysis of previous elections it is learnt that in the 11th Jatiya Sangsad polls (2018) Mujibul Haque Chunnu of Jatiya Party bagged 2,39,616 votes and Independent candidate Md Saiful Islam got 31786 votes.

In the 10th JS polls (2014) Chunnu of JP got 79373 votes while Independent candidate Dr Mizanul Haq 16407 votes.

In the 9th JS polls (2008) Chunnu of JP got 1,59, 044 votes and Jahangir Mollah of BNP got 52, 451 votes.