13th National Parliament Elections: Khulna District

In Khulna district, electoral contests between the Awami League and the BNP have historically been almost evenly matched, a pattern reflected in the results of most national elections held in the country, except for the last three. However, with the Awami League absent from the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections, the political landscape in Khulna has changed significantly. This time, the contest in the district is expected to be mainly between the BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Below is an overview of the six parliamentary constituencies in Khulna district.

Khulna-1 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 99): Khulna-1 constituency comprises Batiaghata and Dacope upazilas of Khulna district. The total number of voters in this constituency is 290,267, including 144,568 male voters and 145,699 female voters. There are no hijra voters registered in this constituency.

Candidates: A total of 12 candidates are contesting the seat in the upcoming election. Subrata Mondal of Bangladesh Samadhikar Party (BSP) is contesting with the ink-pot and pen symbol. G M Rokonuzzaman of Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) is running with the truck symbol, while Prabir Gopal Roy of Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP) is contesting with the rocket symbol. Independent candidate Achintya Kumar Mondal is contesting with the horse symbol. Sunil Shubho Roy of Bangladesh Islamic Front is contesting with the candle symbol. Md Jahangir Hossain of Jatiya Party is running with the plough symbol. Krishna Nandi of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is contesting with the scales symbol, while Kishore Kumar Roy of the Communist Party of Bangladesh is running with the sickle symbol. Independent candidate Gobinda Halder is contesting with the pitcher symbol. In addition, Prosenjit Dutta of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) is running with the star symbol, Amir Ejaz Khan of BNP with the sheaf of paddy symbol, and Md Abu Sayeed of Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the hand fan symbol.

Elected MPs: In 1991, Sheikh Harunur Rashid of the Awami League was elected from this seat. In the June 1996 election, Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina won the constituency, followed by Panchanan Biswas of the Awami League in the September 1996 by-election. In the 2008 election, Nani Gopal Mondal of the Awami League won the seat.

Khulna-2 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 100): Khulna-2 constituency comprises Khulna City Corporation wards 16 to 31. The total number of voters is 320,220, including 159,270 male voters and 160,942 female voters, with eight hijra voters registered.

Candidates: Three candidates are contesting this seat: Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales), Nazrul Islam Manju of BNP (sheaf of paddy), and Amanullah of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (hand fan).

Elected MPs: In 1991, Sheikh Razzak Ali of BNP was elected from this seat. In the 2001 election, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia won the constituency, and in the November 2001 by-election, Ali Asgar Lobi of BNP was elected. In the 2008 election, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Manju reclaimed the seat.

Khulna-3 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 101): Khulna-3 constituency comprises Khulna City Corporation wards 1 to 15 and the Arongghata and Jogipol unions of Dighalia upazila. The constituency has a total of 245,683 voters, including 124,445 male voters and 121,234 female voters, with four hijra voters.

Candidates: A total of 10 candidates are contesting the seat. They include Md A A Auwal of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (hand fan), Rakibul Islam of BNP (sheaf of paddy), Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales), Janardan Dutta of Bangladesh Socialist Party-BASAD (ladder), Sheikh Arman Hossain of National Democratic Movement (NDM) (lion), and independent candidates Moin Mohammad Mayaz (football), Md Abul Hasnat Siddique (ship), and Md Murad Khan Liton (kite). In addition, Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Jatiya Party is contesting with the plough symbol, and S M Arifur Rahman (Mithu) is contesting as an independent candidate with the deer symbol.

Elected MPs: In 1991, Ashraf Hossain of BNP was elected from this constituency. In June 1996, Kazi Sekandar Ali of the Awami League won the seat. In 2001, Ashraf Hossain of BNP was re-elected. In the 2008 election, Awami League candidate Begum Monnujan Sufian won the seat.

Khulna-4 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 102): Khulna-4 constituency comprises Dighalia, Rupsha, and Terokhada upazilas. The total number of voters is 355,183, including 177,304 male voters and 177,878 female voters, with one hijra voter registered.

Candidates: Four candidates are contesting this seat: S M Sakhaowat Hossain of Khelafat Majlis (wall clock), Yunus Ahmed Sheikh of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (hand fan), S K Azizul Bari of BNP (sheaf of paddy), and independent candidate S M Azmal Hossain (football).

Elected MPs: In 1991 and 1996, Mostafa Rashidi Suja of the Awami League was elected from this seat. In 2001, M Nurul Islam of BNP won the constituency, and in 2008, Mollah Jalal Uddin of the Awami League was elected.

Khulna-5 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 103): Khulna-5 constituency comprises Phultala and Dumuria upazilas, excluding the Khan Jahan Ali Metropolitan Thana, along with the Gilatala Cantonment and Atiragilatala areas. The constituency has 383,271 voters, including 190,500 male voters and 192,771 female voters, with no hijra voters.

Candidates: Four candidates are contesting this seat: Shamim Ara Parvin (Yasmin) of Jatiya Party (plough), Mia Golam Parwar of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales), Mohammad Ali Asgar of BNP (sheaf of paddy), and Chitta Ranjan Goldar of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (sickle).

Elected MPs: In 1991, Salahuddin Yusuf of the Awami League was elected. In February 1996, Gazi Abdul Haque of BNP won the seat, followed by Salahuddin Yusuf of the Awami League in the June 1996 election. In the 2000 by-election, Narayan Chandra Chand of the Awami League was elected. In 2001, Mia Golam Parwar of Jamaat-e-Islami won the seat, and in the 2008 election, Narayan Chandra Chand of the Awami League was elected.

Khulna-6 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 104): Khulna-6 constituency comprises Koyra and Paikgacha upazilas. The total number of voters in this constituency is 423,331, including 212,869 male voters and 210,461 female voters, with one hijra voter registered.

Candidates: Five candidates are contesting the seat: Md Abul Kalam Azad of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (scales), Md Mostafa Kamal Jahangir of Jatiya Party-JP (plough), S M Monirul Hasan (Bappi) of BNP (sheaf of paddy), Md Asadullah Fakir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (hand fan), and Prashanta Kumar Mondal of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (sickle).

Elected MPs: In 1991, Shah Mohammad Ruhul Quddus of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was elected from this seat. In June 1996, Sheikh Md Nurul Haque of the Awami League won the constituency. In 2001, Shah Mohammad Ruhul Quddus of Jamaat-e-Islami was re-elected. In the 2008 election, Awami League candidate Sohrab Ali Sana won the seat.