MADARIPUR, Feb 11: Madaripur District has long been an Awami League (AL) stronghold in national parliamentary elections. Over the past 16 and a half years, in all the farcical elections held across the country, AL candidates were elected through force. Opposition parties failed to challenge the League in any constituency of this district.
This time, however, the prospect of a free and fair vote has altered the electoral landscape, particularly in the absence of AL from the field. Since the fall of the banned fascist AL government, the BNP has steadily gained ground in Madaripur-once a celebrated League bastion.
Even after the collapse of the Ershad administration, the BNP had never occupied three seats in the district. But after 5 August 2024, with voters long deprived of their franchise under the League's sham elections, the BNP has emerged as a formidable and popular force.
In the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, a three-cornered tough contest is unfolding between the BNP, the Jamaat-led alliance, and independent candidates-many of whom were denied BNP nominations. Jamaat and its allies are banking on AL supporters to resist the BNP. Yet, according to the latest electoral assessments, the main challenge to BNP candidates will come from these disgruntled independent contenders. A fierce and focused fight lies ahead. Campaigns are in full swing across the district, with an election fervour sweeping through hats and bazaars.
MADARIPUR-1: The constituency comprises only Shibchar Upazila. It has 324,289 voters-169,041 male, 155,246 female, and two third-gender voters.
In the 1991 national parliamentary election, Elias Ahmed Chowdhury and Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury of the AL were elected from this seat. For the 13th parliamentary election, Mosammat Nadira Akhter Chowdhury is contesting on a BNP ticket. Independent candidates include Jamal Kamal Mollah, Sajjad Hossain Siddiqui Lavlu, Md. Imran Hossain, Akram Hossain of the Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Abdul Ali of the Communist Party, Jahirul Islam Mintu of Jatiya Party (JaPa), Md. Hafizur Rahman of the Labour Party, Rajib Mollah of the People's Rights Council, and Saiduddin Ahmed Hanzala of Khelafat Majlis.
Mosammat Nadira Chowdhury secured the BNP nomination, while Jamal Kamal Mollah and Sajjad Hossain Siddiqui Lavlu, both denied the party ticket, are running as independents. The main electoral battle is expected between the BNP nominee and independent candidate Jamal Kamal Mollah. A significant portion of Shibchar Upazila BNP leaders and activists are now campaigning for Mollah. Hence, a tough contest between Nadira Chowdhury and Jamal Kamal Mollah is inevitable.
It is especially notable that, given this constituency's history as an AL pocket borough, the outcome will rely heavily on the silent League voters. Jamal Kamal Mollah, though deprived of the BNP nomination and facing financial constraints, is campaigning with considerable desperation and grassroots support.
MADARIPUR-2: The constituency includes Rajoir Upazila and a part of Madaripur Sadar Upazila. The total electorate stands at 436,233-223,624 male, 212,601 female, and eight third-gender voters.
In the past, national parliamentary elections, Abdur Razzak was elected from this seat in 1991 as a candidate of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik League, followed by Shajahan Khan of the AL in the by-election of 1991, and subsequently in 1996, 2001 and 2008.
This is a banned Awami League-held seat. Contesting here now are BNP candidate Mohammad Jahandar Ali Jahan, a locally popular BNP leader; independent Milton Vaidya (denied a BNP nomination); Reazul Islam; Shahidul Islam Khan; Kamrul Islam Said; Mohammad Didar Hossain of the Samajtantrik Dal; Mufti Maulana Abdus Sobahan of the Khelafat Majlis (alliance partner of Jamaat); Ali Ahmed Chowdhury of IAB; Subal Chandra Majumder of the Bangladesh Kalyan Party; and Md. Mohidul Islam of JaPa.
A key factor in this election is Rajoir Upazila, a Hindu-majority area, whose large voter base holds significant sway. Voters here, long denied their franchise under the previous regime, are energised by the prospect of electing a new representative.
With no Jamaat candidate in this constituency, the primary contest will be between the BNP nominee and independent candidate Milton Vaidya.
MADARIPUR-3: The constituency comprises Kalkini Upazila, Dasar Upazila, and the unions of Khojapur, Jhaudi, Ghatmaji, Mostafapur and Kendua of Madaripur Sadar Upazila. It has 387,806 voters-226,845 male, 185,159 female, and two third-gender voters.
In previous national elections, Syed Abul Hossain of the AL was elected MP from this constituency in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2008. In the subsequent farcical elections, AFM Bahauddin Nasim was returned unopposed.
After the fall of the AL, a unity of nationalist forces emerged here. BNP candidate Mohammad Anisur Rahman Talukder, the party's Central Committee's Mass Education Affairs Secretary, is now considered the sole standard-bearer of the BNP. Also contesting are Aminul Islam of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Nitai Chakraborty of Bangladesh Supreme Party, Md. Azizul Haque of IAB, and Maulana Rafiqul Islam of Jamaat-e-Islami.
The candidates are campaigning vigorously. The principal and toughest contest, however, is expected between the BNP and Jamaat nominees.
