PANCHAGARH, the northernmost district of Bangladesh and a hub for the country's flourishing tea industry, is buzzing with political activity as the next national elections draw near.
The district, with its rich history and diverse population, including the ethn ic Santal communities, is divided into two parliamentary constituencies, both of which are shaping up to be fiercely contested battlegrounds.
With Awami League (AL) largely absent from public life following the recent student-public uprising and a ban on its activities, a significant political vacuum has emerged. This has allowed political parties, most notably Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), to actively mobilise their organizations. Leaders and activists are busy forming committees at all levels, from ward to district, and holding meetings, rallies, and campaigns to energise their bases.
PANCHAGARH-1: This constituency encompasses the upazilas of Tentulia, Atwari, and Sadar.
The seat is shaping up to be a complex and unpredictable battleground. Following the anti-dictatorship movement of the 1990s, the constituency emerged as a stronghold of the BNP, which continues to influence the political landscape of this northern border district.
This seat, with its history of alternating power between major parties, now faces a new reality marked by the absence of one dominant force and the rise of multiple contenders. The outcome, locals believe, hinges on the votes of women, youth, and the silent electorate.
The constituency has seen senior leaders from the BNP hold power, with late Mirza Golam Hafiz elected in 1991 and Barrister Zamiruddin Sarkar serving from 1996 to 2001. However, the seat was lost to the AL in 2008 when Mazharul Haque Prodhan won. Although Nazmul Haque Prodhan of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) secured the seat in 2014, the AL returned to victory in 2018 and again in the January 7, 2024, elections.
Following the July-August student-public uprising, AL's absence from public life, compounded by a ban on its activities, has left a political vacuum. Similarly, the Jatiya Party (JaPa) has been inactive.
In contrast, leaders and activists from BNP, Jamaat, and NCP have become increasingly visible. Other parties, including JSD, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), Zaker Party (ZP), Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP), and Gana Sanghati Andolan (GSA), are also holding various programmes to maintain the morale of their supporters.
With a total of 436,926 voters in the last national election, the constituency has seen a recent increase of 16,347 voters in Panchagarh-1 alone, bringing the total to nearly 450,000 voters. Among these, an estimated 75,000 to 80,000 are Hindu voters, and 40,000 to 45,000 are young voters, who are expected to play a decisive role in the upcoming election.
The question of alliances in the next election is a topic of intense calculation among candidates. With several strong contenders from multiple parties, no one is willing to make a definitive statement on the matter.
The field is crowded with influential candidates. Among them is Barrister Muhammad Nawshad Zamir, Central BNP's International Affairs Secretary. According to party sources, he is a confirmed BNP candidate for the upcoming election. Since the fall of the AL government, Barrister Nawshad Zamir has ramped up his activities, holding meetings and gatherings to mobilise party workers. His father's respected public image is expected to be a significant asset in attracting voters. While other senior district BNP leaders are also considering seeking nominations, they have been hesitant to make their intentions public.
Besides, Md. Touhidul Islam, Convener of District Municipality BNP, is seeking party nomination though he is yet to make an official announcement. Touhidul, a five-time elected mayor, had also sought nomination in 2018, when the party chose Barrister Nawshad Jamir, son of former Speaker and Acting President Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar.
Jamaat has officially declared its District Ameer Iqbal Hossain as its candidate for the constituency. Iqbal Hossain has been actively working on the ground since before the mass uprising. In the current climate, he has intensified his efforts to strengthen the party's grassroots organization through meetings, gatherings, and "Tafsirul Quran Mahfils" (Quranic study sessions). Jamaat is also reportedly providing humanitarian assistance to the needy in various areas.
Sarjis Alam, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has become highly active in his hometown of Atwari Upazila since the July Uprising. After the formation of the NCP, he has been appointed the main organizer for the northern region. Upon taking on this new role, he staged a massive motorcade with over a hundred vehicles, a move that drew both discussion and criticism. He has also held meetings and public rallies most recently during the NCP's "July March" at Chowrangi intersection, where he was joined by party Convener Nahid Islam. Although he has been visible, Sarjis Alam has not confirmed his own candidacy, saying that the NCP's candidate for Panchagarh-1 will be decided by the voters themselves.
Former MP Nazmul Haque Prodhan, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the JSD remains a strong contender. Having been elected once in 2014, he holds a significant voter base. He has continued to hold meetings and maintain public relations across the district.
Rashed Prodhan, the spokesperson for JAGPA and son of its late founder Shafiul Alam Prodhan, is another popular and well-known figure. He has also been holding public meetings, but on the topic of his candidacy, he said, "Voting politics has not started yet. Alliance politics is going on for now. Nothing can be said about what will happen with the alliance." He, however, confirmed that he would participate in the election.
JaPa's District General Secretary Abu Salek, who contested twice with the Plough symbol, has not clarified his position this time.
Besides, Qari Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Vice-President of IAB District Committee, Anisur Rahman, Vice-President of ZP District Committee, and Mahfuzur Rahman, Convener of GOP District Committee, are actively holding meetings and party programmes in the area, signalling their preparations for the upcoming parliamentary election.
The leaders are vocal in their demand for a fair electoral process, speaking out in various meetings and courtyard gatherings. While no formal candidacy announcements have been made outside of Jamaat, all parties are focused on keeping their leaders and activists motivated through grassroots and central programmes.
PANCHAGARH-2: This constituency encompasses Boda and Debiganj upazilas.
While the AL, which has held the seat since 2008, finds itself largely absent from the political scene, its primary rivals, the BNP and Jamaat are gearing up for a direct confrontation.
This constituency is particularly significant due to its large population of traditional religious (Hindu) voters, who are concentrated in Boda and Debiganj upazilas. With over one lakh Hindu voters, their support has historically played a decisive role in the outcome of past elections. Both the BNP and Jamaat are actively seeking to court this crucial demographic.
The political landscape in Panchagarh-2, much like in Panchagarh-1, has been changed dramatically since the recent national uprising. The AL is conspicuously absent from the area and its activities have been ceased following the ban on the party's operations. This vacuum has provided an opportunity for other parties to become more active.
In the 1991 election, Mozahar Hossain was elected from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) but later joined the BNP, winning the seat for the party in both 1996 and 2001. However, the seat shifted to the AL in 2008 with the victory of District AL President Nurul Islam Sujan. He has since held the seat, securing wins in 2014, 2018, and most recently, in the 2024 elections.
The constituency has a total of 389,941 voters, with an increase of 13,267 new voters added to the updated list. This includes over one lakh Hindu voters and an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 young voters, whose combined influence is expected to be a key factor in the upcoming election.
The political dynamics on the ground suggest a direct competition between the BNP and Jamaat. Both parties are more active than ever, preparing their respective organizations for the upcoming polls. The fierce rivalry between these two parties has local residents speculating on the outcome. Other parties like NCP, JAGPA, JSD, ZP, GOP, and GSP are also holding limited programmes.
BNP's Central Rural Development Affairs Secretary and Panchagarh District BNP Member Secretary Farhad Hossain Azad is a strong candidate for his party. He has been actively working on the ground, holding regular meetings and gatherings to organize the party.
"As the District BNP Member Secretary, I am spending my time organizing the party with leaders and activists," he said. "I am in regular contact with grassroots leaders and supporters. I have been holding regular meetings, gatherings, and courtyard meetings, trying to reach every house with the 31-point state reform plan under the guidance of our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman."
Farhad Hossain Azad, who has previously contested the seat, is confident in the BNP's chances. "Even though I was defeated in a rigged election last time, I did not stay idle. I have tried to remain with our workers and supporters in the area. I am confident that if the coming national parliamentary election is free, fair, and neutral, the BNP will reclaim this seat," he said.
Masud Rana Riaz of Central Chhatra Dal and Amir Hossain Amu of Ganatantrik Party (GP) have expressed interest in contesting with BNP support.
Jamaat is also playing an active role in the constituency. The party's Executive Committee Member and former Boda Upazila Chairman Safiullah Safi has been declared as the Jamaat candidate.
He said, "We have endured a lot of oppression and torture during the fascist government's rule. Since the fall of the AL government, we have started organizing our party. We are holding daily meetings and gatherings in various areas." He added that there has been no problem from rival parties, and everyone has been speaking positively. "I am trying my best. But only Allah can grant success or honour," he said.
The Hindu community in Boda and Debiganj upazilas has emerged as a central focus in the upcoming national elections, with political parties actively seeking their support. From offering financial assistance to providing protection during Puja festivals, parties are competing to win the trust of voters in this border region.
Local accounts suggest that both Jamaat and AL have historically maintained close ties with the Hindu community, particularly during crises. Recently, BNP has also intensified its outreach, creating a highly competitive political environment.
Local Jamaat leader Safiullah Sufi has become well-known for his consistent presence at religious events including Durga Puja, Kali Puja, and other Hindu festivals.
"Our Boda-Debiganj Hindu community has lived safely compared to many other areas. We ensure no injustice or oppression occurs. Party activists and madrasa students join hands with Hindu organizers to maintain security during Durga Puja," Sufi said.
Alongside Jamaat, BNP leaders have also been actively reaching out. Following the mass uprising earlier this year, many Hindu families feared insecurity ahead of Durga Puja. BNP district leader and Central Rural Development Affairs Secretary Farhad Hossain Azad personally inspected around 125 Puja pavilions across Debiganj and Boda and provided Tk 10,000 to families affected by the 2022 boat tragedy. Farhad has also attended festivals, Puja mandaps, and religious chariot processions as chief guest, signalling BNP's intention to strengthen ties with the Hindu community. "Our goal is to ensure no harassment, false cases, or vandalism occurs against Hindus after political changes," he said.
Although Jamaat and BNP have gained prominence, many Hindu residents acknowledge AL's historical engagement. During its rule, AL leaders participated in festivals and extended support, and their presence in the area continues, though local accounts suggest that Jamaat and BNP have recently been more proactive at the grassroots level.
Other parties are also preparing for the contest. Shishir Asad, Chief Coordinator of NCP's Boda Upazila Committee, has shown his intention to participate in the election.
Meanwhile, JAGPA Vice-President Barrister Tasmia Prodhan has expressed her intention to contest from this constituency. She also ran from this seat in the 2018 elections.
Tasmia is the daughter of the late Shafiul Alam Prodhan, founder of JAGPA. Her ancestral home is in Tokrabhasha Village of Debiganj Upazila, where her family holds a strong reputation.
JSD District President Prof. Emran Al Amin is also preparing to run again, maintaining contact with 20 unions and three municipalities.
Other names being discussed include Kamrul Hassan Prodhan, President of IAB Debiganj Upazila unit and also President of District unit of Islami Shramik Andolan; Shah Alam, President of ZP's Debiganj Upazila unit; and Ashraful Alam, Central Committee Member and General Secretary of the CPB's District Committee. Ashraful Alam is involved in the teaching profession.
He has been actively implementing centrally-declared party programmes and also engaged in movements on local issues.
Though smaller in size, these parties remain active through various programmes. Additionally, Khelafat Majlish and GOP are reportedly preparing to contest from this constituency as well.
