Sunamganj 1 constituency: Awami League divided over nomination, BNP stable

Aspirants of the ruling Awami League and BNP are running campaigns for the upcoming national election, scheduled to be held at the end of December, in the haor region Sunamganj 1 constituency. 

However, leaders of other parties, including the opposition Jatiya Party, have not launched campaigns yet in the district’s biggest constituency, which consists of Dharamapasha, Tahirpur and Jamalganj upazilas. 

The local Awami League has been divided into several groups over nominations. 

On the other side, BNP aspirants are observing ongoing protest programs, demanding the release of their incarcerated party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, alongside their campaigning.

Race for Awami League nomination

Awami League nomination-seekers include current MP Moazzem Hossain Ratan, former MP Syed Rafiqul Haque Suhel, the party’s district unit Youth and Sports Affairs Secretary Ranjit Sarkar and Krishak League leader Shamima Shahriar.

All these aspirants are busy campaigning and interacting with voters.

The party’s Dharamapasha upazila unit’s General Secretary Shamim Ahmed Bilkis, who is loyal to MP Moazzem, said the lawmaker has implemented a number of development projects in the constituency. 

So he should get nomination again, and if nominated he will definitely win in the election, Shamim said. 

However, another local Awami League leader Alamgir Kabir disagreed with his fellow leader, saying that grassroots and local people are not happy with the activities of MP Moazzem.

If he gets nominated it will be difficult for the party to retain the constituency, Alamgir said. 

MP Moazzem denied any grouping over nomination. “There is no grouping but there is competition over nomination.”

He said he is hopeful of receiving the party ticket and winning in the election.

BNP frontrunners

BNP nomination hopefuls are former MP Nazir Hossain, the party’s district unit Vice President Anisul Haque, Organizing Secretary Kamruzzman Kamrul and Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh’s Founding President Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury.

One of the aspirants, Anisul, said there is no rivalry among the nomination seekers. 

“BNP is organised in this constituency. If the election is held in a free and fair manner we will win the election with record votes,” he said.