The nation waits with bated breath as Bangladesh goes to the polls today for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Across the country, a palpable excitement fills the air, and this enthusiasm has not spared the sporting world.
This year, a remarkable number of former athletes and sports organisers have entered the electoral fray, aiming to translate their on-field excellence into political influence. Nearly all of these sports personalities are contesting under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), hoping to serve the public from the halls of the Jatiya Sangsad while contributing to the nation's sporting development.
Of the sports-affiliated candidates, 28 are BNP nominees, with only two contesting outside the party fold. One of these is standing under the 11-party alliance, a coalition of like-minded parties including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), while the other is contesting as an independent.
Veteran footballer Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, a former winger and striker who played with distinction even during the 1971 Liberation War, is contesting from Bhola-3 on a BNP ticket.
Ex-national goalkeeper Aminul Haque, the hero of Bangladesh's historic 2003 SAFF Championship triumph, is standing in Dhaka-16 against Abdul Baten of the 11-party alliance.
Other prominent sports figures in the election include:
sMirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, former secretary of Mohammedan Sporting Club and BNP secretary-general, contesting Thakurgaon-1 against Delawar Hossain (11-party alliance)
s Monirul Haque Chowdhury, former secretary of Mohammedan SC, contesting Cumilla-6 against Kazi Deen Mohammad (11-party alliance)
sShariful Alam, former Mohammedan vice-president, contesting Kishoreganj-6
sZainal Abedin Faruk, former director of Mohammedan SC, contesting Noakhali-2 against Sultan Mohammad Zakaria Majumdar (11-party alliance)
sAli Asgar Lobi, ex-BCB and Abahani director, contesting Khulna-5 against Mia Golam Parwar (11-party alliance)
sMirza Abbas, former sports minister, contesting Dhaka-8 against Nasiruddin Patwary (11-party alliance)
sEhsanul Haq Milon, ex-volleyball player and education state minister, contesting Chandpur-1 against Abu Nosor Mohammad Moqbul Ahmad (11-party alliance)
sSheikh Fariduddin Ahmad Manik, former Arambagh Krira Sangha president, contesting Chandpur-3 against Sahjahan Miah (11-party alliance)
Other BNP sports candidates include Nazarul Islam Azad (Narayanganj-2), Rasheduzzaman Millat (Jamalpur-1), Khairul Kabir Khokon (Narsingdi-1), Habibur Rashid Habib (Dhaka-9), Nabi Ullah Nabi (Dhaka-5), M.A. Kaiyum (Dhaka-11), Farhad Hossain Azad (Panchagarh-2), Shah Md. Wares Ali Mamun (Jamalpur-5), Mir Helal (Chattogram-5), and Najrul Islam Manju (Khulna-2). Where relevant, their opponents are standing under the 11-party alliance banner.
Outside the BNP fold, two sports personalities are contesting. They are former BFF president and LDP leader Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed in Chattogram-14 under the 11-party alliance, and former footballer Sajjad Hossain Lavlu Siddiqui, standing independently in Madaripur-1.
The entry of these sporting figures into the election has injected a unique dynamism into the campaign, demonstrating the merging of discipline, dedication, and competitive spirit from the playing field to the political stage. Their participation marks a historic moment, highlighting the continued influence of sports personalities in the broader fabric of national life.
