13th National Parliament Elections: Kushtia District

Kushtia district is an administrative region of the Khulna Division in south-western Bangladesh. The district has a total of four parliamentary constituencies. Following the Election Commission’s publication of the final list of candidates for the 13th National Parliament elections, election campaigning began across the district from last Thursday (January 22).

Kushtia-1 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 75): Kushtia-1 constituency consists of Daulatpur Upazila of Kushtia district. The total number of voters in this constituency is 380,288. Of them, 191,223 are male and 189,065 are female voters. There are no transgender voters on the list.

Candidates: A total of eight candidates are contesting this seat in the upcoming election. They are Md. Shahriar Jamil from Jatiya Party, Md. Shahabul Islam from Gana Adhikar Parishad (GOP), Dr. Md. Gias Uddin from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Md. Belal Uddin from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md. Aminul Islam from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Md. Nuruzzaman as an independent candidate, Reza Ahammed from Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Moha Badiruzzaman from Bangladesh Islamic Front.

Elected MPs: In 1986, Mohammad Qurban Ali of Jatiya Party was elected from this seat. Ahsanul Haque Molla of BNP won in 1991 and again in the 1996 and 2001 elections. In the 2004 by-election, Bacchu Molla was elected. Afaz Uddin Ahmed of Awami League won in 2008. Independent candidate Rezaul Haque Chowdhury was elected in 2014. In 2018, Sarwar Jahan Badsha of Awami League won the seat. Most recently, in the 2024 election, independent candidate Rezaul Haque Chowdhury reclaimed the seat.

Kushtia-2 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 76): Kushtia-2 constituency comprises Bheramara Upazila and Mirpur Upazila of Kushtia district. The total number of voters is 451,936, including 226,405 male and 225,528 female voters. There are three transgender voters.

Candidates: Five candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are Ragib Rauf Chowdhury from BNP, Mohammad Ali from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Md. Babul Akter from Islamic Front Bangladesh, Nur Uddin Ahmed from Bangladesh Communist Party, and Md. Abdul Gafur from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Elected MPs: Abdul Wahed of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was elected in 1986. In 1988, Ahsan Habib Lincoln of Jatiya Party won the seat. Abdur Rauf Chowdhury of BNP was elected in 1991. Shahidul Islam of BNP won consecutively in the February and June 1996 elections as well as in 2001. Hasanul Haq Inu of JSD won the seat in 2008, 2014 and 2018. In the most recent 2024 election, independent candidate Kamarul Arefin was elected.

Kushtia-3 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 77): Kushtia-3 constituency consists of Kushtia Sadar Upazila. The total number of voters is 415,402, including 205,318 male and 210,081 female voters. There are three transgender voters.

Candidates: Six candidates are contesting this seat. They are Md. Amir Hamza from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md. Abdullah Akhand from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Mosammat Rumpa Khatun from Bangladesh Republican Party (BRP), Mir Nazmul Islam from Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal–BASAD, Moha Shariful Islam from Gana Adhikar Parishad (GOP), and Md. Zakir Hossain Sarkar from BNP.

Elected MPs: In 1986, Syed Altaf Hossain of NAP was elected. In 1988, Md. Badruddoza Gama of Jatiya Party won the seat. Abdul Khalek Chantu of BNP was elected in 1991. Sohrab Uddin of BNP won in February 1996, while Abdul Khalek Chantu regained the seat in June 1996. In 2001, Sohrab Uddin was again elected on a BNP ticket. Khandaker Rashiduzzaman Dudu of Awami League won in 2008. Mahbubul Alam Hanif of Awami League was elected consecutively in 2014, 2018 and 2024.

Kushtia-4 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 78): Kushtia-4 constituency comprises Kumarkhali Upazila and Khoksa Upazila of Kushtia district. The total number of voters is 396,597, including 199,734 male and 196,861 female voters. There are two transgender voters.

Candidates: Six candidates are contesting this seat. They are Tarun Kumar Ghosh from Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi from BNP, Md. Afzal Hossain from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md. Abdul Hakim Mia from Gana Forum, Anwar Khan from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Md. Shahidul Islam from Bangladesh Labour Party.

Elected MPs: In 1986, Abul Hossain Tarun of Awami League was elected. Nur Alam Ziku of JSD won in 1988. Abdul Awal Mia of Awami League reclaimed the seat in 1991. Shahidullah Khan in February 1996 and Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi in June 1996 were elected on BNP tickets. Sultana Tarun of Awami League won in 2008, followed by Abdur Rauf in 2014 and Selim Altaf George in 2018. Most recently, in the 2024 election, independent candidate Abdur Rauf was elected to parliament.