DUMURIA, KHULNA, Feb 18: In Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Phultala), BNP's Paddy Sheaf symbol clinched victory riding on the votes of the Hindu community. Many BNP leaders themselves hailed the outcome on Facebook, calling it proof that the party had broken into Awami League's traditional bastion.
Yet, the story is not without irony: several influential BNP figures suffered crushing defeats in their own polling centres. Data shows that in Muslim-majority areas, most women cast their ballots for the Scale symbol, while long queues of Sanatani voters at every booth ensured the BNP's edge. Leaders and activists claim this surge reflects trust, affection, and confidence built over time.
To probe deeper, we spoke with Molla Mosharraf Hossain Mofiz, former convener of Dumuria BNP and Chief Coordinator of the Upazila Election Committee. He dismissed the notion of 'minority votes'.
Nityananda Mondal, teacher at Banda Collegiate School and member of Khulna BNP's Convening Committee, echoed the sentiment. As a leader of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Front and Matua Unity Alliance, he said:
"We have long worked to restore Hindu confidence in BNP-joining Sanatani gatherings, rituals, and the grand Matua Mahasamabesh. At Banda Collegiate's field, thousands of devotees heard Matua Acharya Sripad Padmanabh Thakur himself urge them to vote for BNP as the pro-independence force. That call resonated."
The festive turnout of Sanatani voters, Mondal argued, was a testament to BNP's growing acceptance. But he cautioned: sustaining this trust requires genuine love, solidarity, and constant presence in both joy and hardship.
