KOYRA, KHULNA, Feb 5: All eyes are on the Khulna-6 (Koyra-Paikgachha) constituency, where a compelling two-way contest is unfolding in the 13th national parliamentary election.
The central question on everyone's mind is: who will prevail-SM Monirul Hasan Bappi of the BNP, bearing the Paddy Sheaf symbol, or Maulana Abul Kalam Azad of Jamaat-e-Islami, campaigning under the Scale symbol?
While five candidates are formally in the race, political observers and voters alike believe the victory will be decided between these two main contenders. The other candidates are Hafez Maulana Asadullah Al Ghalib (Hand Fan) of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Mustafa Ramzan Jahangir (Plough) of the Jatiya Party, and Advocate Prashant Kumar Mondal (Hammer and Sickle) of the Communist Party.
The constituency, encompassing the Sundarban region known for its 'white gold' (shrimp) and majestic mangroves, has 418,562 voters-184,500 in Koyra and 218,562 in Paikgachha. A significant factor is the Hindu (Sanatani) voter base, numbering over 128,000. With the Awami League (AL)absent from this election, a key dynamic is which of the two front-runners can secure a larger share of its traditional votes and those of the religious minority.
Historically, this seat has seen varied representation. From 1973 to the present, the AL has won six times, the Jamaat-led four-party alliance twice, with single victories for the Jatiya Party, BNP, and an independent candidate. This election marks a shift, as the long-time allies BNP and Jamaat are contesting separately without their common rival, making voter alignment unpredictable.
Election analysts suggest that in this scenario, the candidate who more effectively consolidates votes from the AL's former support base and the Sanatani community will have a decisive edge.
The candidates present contrasting appeals:
BNP's SM Monirul Hasan Bappi states, "I have come not to take, but to give. A public wave for the BNP exists across the country, and despite conspiracies, the people will vote for development under the Paddy Sheaf."
Jamaat's Maulana Abul Kalam Azad asserts, "The people desire change, and I have long worked to convey that message. The voters are with me, and given a free, fair, and impartial election, I will be victorious, God willing."
As the campaign intensifies, the debate continues over who will ultimately win the trust-and the votes-of Khulna-6.
