A total of 1,841 candidates contested from 299 constituencies the 11th parliamentary election, but a few of them in particular generated a lot of hype and excitement among the people.
These candidates were the topic of hot discussion both on social media platforms and in tea stalls across the country before the polls took place on December 30.
The Dhaka Tribune is showcasing the performance of some of these candidates who left a mark on the minds of the people.
Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque, Dhaka 17
Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque | Wikimedia commonsProminent film actor Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque alias Mia Bhai was nominated by the Awami League-led grand alliance for the Dhaka 17 constituency in the general polls.
Farooque contested under the boat symbol from Dhaka 17 (Gulshan, Banani, Dhaka Cantonment and parts of Vashantek), and received 164,610 votes. His nearest contestant Andaleev Rahman Partho from the Oikya Front received 38,639 votes.
Farooque is a founding member of the Film Artist Association and acting president of Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote. Jatiya Party Chairman and former President Hussain Muhammad Ershad initially wanted to contest in this constituency, but later announced his support for Farooque.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Narail 2
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza | Md Manik/Dhaka TribuneBangladesh Cricket Team’s ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was nominated for contesting from Narail 2 under the boat symbol.
He is a role model for many of the young generation of Bangladesh. His opponent in Narail 2 was AZM Fariduzzaman Farhad contesting under the sheaf of paddy.
Fariduzzaman is the chairman of National People's Party, an associate organization of the Jatiya Oikya Front, led by the BNP.
Mashrafe achieved a landslide win with 271,210 votes, while Farhad got 7,883 votes.
SM Shahjada Saju, Patuakhali 3
SM Shahjada Saju | FacebookSM Shahjada Saju, nephew of Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, came into the spotlight after Awami League nominated him for the Patuakhali 3 constituency.
The Awami League Parliamentary Board (ALPB), which nominates candidates for parliamentary polls, nominated Saju instead of incumbent Awami League lawmaker AKM Zahangir Hossain.
Shahjada, a businessman based in Barisal, was involved in Chhatra League politics during 1989-90, but had not held any political position.
Despite facing criticism from the BNP for being the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda’s relative, Saju won the polls with 217,261 votes.
Golam Maula Rony, Patuakhali 3
Golam Maula Rony | FacebookFormer Awami League lawmaker Golam Maula Rony contested from Patuakhali 3 constituency under the BNP, and acted as the main rival of Awami League candidate SM Shahjada Saju.
He was defeated in the election after getting only 6,459 votes.
Rony joined the BNP in a simple ceremony held at the BNP chief’s Gulshan office on November 26, 2018.
On December 20, joint convener of Awami League’s election management committee Mehedi Masud filed a lawsuit against Rony under the Digital Security Act.
During his political career in Awami League, Rony was elected lawmaker in Patuakhali 3 constituency back in 2008. He went to jail in 2014 in a case filed over assaulting two journalists. The case was later scrapped.
Sheikh Sarhan Naser Tonmoy, Bagerhat 2
Sheikh Sarhan Naser Tonmoy | Saikat Bhadra/Dhaka TribuneSheikh Sarhan Naser Tonmoy, nephew of the prime minister and ruling party chief Sheikh Hasina, contested in the general polls under the boat symbol in Bagerhat 2 constituency.
Tonmoy is the only son of lawmaker Sheikh Helal Uddin, son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s younger brother Sheikh Naser. Tonmoy, 32, had generated much hype on Facebook among the young ladies, especially for his handsome looks and suave behaviour.
In 2001, when the Awami League president contested from Bagerhat 1 constituency, Tonmoy became active in politics and participated in electioneering for Sheikh Hasina.
Tonmoy won the seat with 221,212 votes and defeated his rival MA Salam from the BNP, who received only 4,597 votes.
Dr Sunsila Jabrin Priyanka, Sherpur 1
Dr Sunsila Jabrin Priyanka | CollectedThe youngest candidate in the 11th general election, 25-year-old Dr Sunsila Jabrin Priyanka contested under sheaf of paddy symbol from Sherpur 1 constituency.
Dr Sunsila is a lecturer of Anwar Khan Modern Medical College and Hospital in Dhanmondi. She contested against four-time elected Awami League lawmaker Atiur Rahman Atiq.
She generated much hype among young voters as a representative of the young generation. Sunsila received 27,643 votes, and was defeated by Atiur, who received 287,452 votes.
The daughter of BNP’s Sherpur district unit General Secretary Dr Hazrat Ali, Sunsila brought the BNP’s symbol back in this constituency after 22 years.
Reza Kibria, Habiganj 1
Reza Kibria | CollectedReza Kibria, son of former Awami League Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria, contested from Habiganj 1 constituency as a representative of the Oikya Front, a key ally of the BNP.
Economist Reza Kibria’s father Shah AMS Kibria had served as a finance minister under the Sheikh Hasina-led government during1996-2001, and Habiganj 1 was his constituency.
During a public meeting in Habiganj on January 27, 2005, the former finance minister was killed in a grenade attack.
Reza has worked for the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and as an advisor to the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Cambodia. He received 85,197 votes, but lost the election.
Hero Alom, Bogra 4
Hero Alom | FacebookAshraful Hossain Alom, a popular music video model prominently known as Hero Alom by his fans, contested from Bogra4 constituency as an independent candidate.
He complained of physical harassment perpetrated by ruling party men.
On November 12,he collected his Jatiya Party nomination form, but his candidacy was rejected on December 2 as he failed to collect the signatures of 1% voters of this constituency.
He later contested the election as an independent candidate by filing an appeal with the High court.
Alam was defeated by Md Mosharraf Hossain, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) after getting only 638 votes under the symbol Lion.
