13th National Parliament Elections: Bagerhat District

Bagerhat district, located adjacent to Gopalganj, has long been regarded as an Awami League stronghold. This pattern was reflected in the outcomes of almost all national elections held in the country, with the exception of the last three. However, the electoral landscape in this district has changed in the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections due to the absence of the Awami League. As a result, the contest in Bagerhat is now expected to be primarily between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Below is an overview of the four parliamentary constituencies in Bagerhat district.

Bagerhat-1 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 95): Bagerhat-1 constituency comprises Fakirhat Upazila, Chitalmari Upazila and Mollahat Upazila.

Candidates: A total of eight candidates are contesting this seat in the upcoming election. They are S M Golam Sarwar of the Jatiya Party (plough symbol), M D Shamsul Haque of the Bangladesh Muslim League (hurricane), Kapil Krishna Mondal of BNP (sheaf of paddy), A Sabur Sheikh of Bangladesh Muslim League–BML (hand), Md Aminul Islam of Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) (eagle), Md Sheikh Masud Rana as an independent candidate (football), Md Mashiur Rahman Khan of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales), and M A H Selim as an independent candidate (horse).

Elected MPs: In 1986, M A Khayer of the Awami League was elected from this seat. Mozammel Hossain of the Awami League won in 1991. In the 1996 general election, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was elected. In the 1996 by-election, Sheikh Helal Uddin of the Awami League won the seat. Sheikh Hasina was again elected in 2001, followed by Sheikh Helal Uddin in the 2001 by-election. Sheikh Hasina won the seat in the 2008 election, and Sheikh Helal Uddin was elected in the 2009 by-election.

Bagerhat-2 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 96): Bagerhat-2 constituency consists of Kachua Upazila and Bagerhat Sadar Upazila.

Candidates: Four candidates are contesting this seat. They are Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain of BNP (sheaf of paddy), Sheikh Atiar Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (hand fan), M A H Selim as an independent candidate (horse), and Sheikh Manjurul Haque (Rahad) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales).

Elected MPs: In 1991, A S M Mustafizur Rahman of BNP was elected. Mir Sakhawat Ali Daru of the Awami League won the seat in 1996. In 2001, M A H Selim of BNP was elected, followed by Mir Shawkat Ali Badsha of the Awami League in 2008.

Bagerhat-3 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 97): Bagerhat-3 constituency comprises Mongla Upazila and Rampal Upazila.

Candidates: Five candidates are contesting this seat. They are M A H Selim as an independent candidate (horse), Mohammad Abdul Wadud Sheikh of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales), Md Habibur Rahman Master of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal–JSD (star), Sheikh Faridul Islam of BNP (sheaf of paddy), and Sheikh Zillur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (hand fan).

Elected MPs: Talukder Abdul Khaleque of the Awami League was elected in 1991, 1996 and 2001. In 2008, Habibun Nahar of the Awami League won the seat.

Bagerhat-4 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 98): Bagerhat-4 constituency consists of Morrelganj Upazila and Sharankhola Upazila.

Candidates: Six candidates are contesting this seat. They are Md Omar Faruk of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (hand fan), Md Abdul Alim of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales), Md A Latif Khan of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal–JSD (star), Kazi Khairuzzaman (Shipon) as an independent candidate (deer), Sajan Kumar Mistry of the Jatiya Party–JP (plough), and Somnath Dey of BNP (sheaf of paddy).

Elected MPs: In 1991, Abdul Sattar Akon of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was elected. Mozammel Hossain of the Awami League won the seat in 1996. Abdul Sattar Akon regained the seat in 2001, while Mozammel Hossain was again elected in 2008.