Once terrorist organizations ruled the territory with violence and bloodshed, Satkhira-2 constituency is now a land of peace and amity. The peace has been achieved due to the active role of law enforcement agency members in cooperation with the local administration, the ruling party lawmaker and political leaders.
Ahead of the 12th JatiyaSangsad Elections, all political organisations leaders of the Satkhira-2 constituency, including the ruling Awami League and the BNP, have already started massive lobbying and counter-lobbying in the centre to get nominations in their favour.
Local grassroots-level leaders and activists of AL prefer a partisan candidate to continue the ongoing development activities in the area.
On the other hand, local BNP and alliance leaders are also trying to dominate polling field by holding silent courtyard meetings and are waiting for a directive from the leaders in the capital.
The ruling Awami League leaders of this district sadar constituency are trying to forge unity by shrugging aside all differences and avoid feuds among themselves. Still, in reality, it looks very difficult in achieving the harmony.
Awami League has been in the leading position in the constituency for the last three terms and there are signs of development everywhere in the region and most of the voters of the constituency prefer such a development trend to continue in the future as well. On the other hand, BNP-led opposition alliances are in the field with the two-tier programmes of elections and the movement.
Skyrocketing price hikes, bribes, corruption, harassment in government offices and disparities in every sphere are the main issues of BNP and its alliance leaders to start the movement against the incumbent ruling lawmaker and the political leaders.
By reminding the voters about the ruling party’s failures, mismanagement and other negative sides, BNP and its alliance wish to recover four of their lost seats in SatkhiraSadar. BNP has almost kept prepared their final candidate to contest the poll for the Satkhira-2 constituency.
By removing all internal feuds, the alliance has also been able to keep their party leaders and activists movement-oriented. They want to make the ruling party weaker and win the election through a vibrant movement.
However, the movement of the local Awami League is also in a strong position. Most voters of the constituency feel that a tough competition will take place in the polls if the opposition alliance participate in the elections.
Consisting of 12 unions and one municipality of Satkhirasadar upazila, the local Awami League is in a stronger position in the constituency. District AL Senior Vice-President, valiant Freedom Fighter Mir Mostaque Ahmed Rabi was elected as the Member of Parliament from Satkhira-2 constituency with the symbol 'Boat' in the last 10th Parliamentary Elections. During the last 11th Parliamentary Election he was re-elected.
Despite the effort of incumbent MP Mir Mostaque Ahmed Rabi to keep the party free from all internal feuds and indifferences, Satkhira remained under the control of three Awami League leaders for the last 10-years.
The local AL leaders are now divided into three groups- one group is with the district AL General Secretary Nazrul Islam, another is with the incumbent Upazila Chairman and Joint Secretary of district AL AsaduzzamanBabu and the other is with the incumbent Member of Parliament Mir Mostaque Ahmed Rabi. The voters often mention that due to groupings, there is no politician guardian in the SatkhiraAwami League.
Amid such differences and political groupings, many ruling party political leaders are now spending busy time attending various political meetings, holding courtyard meetings and making mass contact with the grassroots level people of the constituency.
Several times elected Sadar Upazila Chairman, Joint Secretary of AL AsaduzzamanBabu has been active in the field and is hoping to get the nomination as a candidate for the constituency. Moreover, there are nearly a dozen of candidates from the Awami League, its alliance and the BNP and its alliance who are also expecting nominations from their concerned party high-ups.
Among these nomination seekers are the vice-president of district Awami League DrErteja Hasan, the Vice-President of dist AL Principal Abu Ahmed, Joint Secretary of dist AL AHM Tareque Uddin, the President of district AL Krishak League MahfuzaAkter Ruby, district Jatiya Party President Azhar Hossain, Joint Convener of dist BNP Abdu Rouf, Joint Convener of BNP Habibur Rahman and the Member of the district Convening Committee of BNP, several times elected UP Chairman Abdul Alim and the district Jammat leader Mohaddes Abdul Khaleque.
