13th National Parliament Elections: Natore District

In the electoral equation, Natore district of the Rajshahi Division is largely considered a BNP-dominated area. However, the Awami League and the Jatiya Party have also secured several seats in the district in recent parliamentary elections. Except for the last three elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) maintained dominance in all four constituencies of the district, though the Awami League put up tough competition in each seat. As the Awami League is not contesting in this election, the voting dynamics of the district have changed. Here is an overview of the electoral contest in Natore’s four constituencies.

Natore-1 (National Parliament Constituency No. 58): Natore-1 constituency comprises Lalpur Upazila and Bagatipara Upazila of the district.

Candidates: A total of 13 candidates are contesting in Natore-1 constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections. They are: Md. Sentu Ali from Ganosamhati Andolon; Md. Mehedi Hasan from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) with the truck symbol; Mohammad Yasir Arshad as an independent candidate with the horse symbol; Md. Abul Kalam Azad from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the scale symbol; Md. Ajabul Haque from Khelafat Majlis; Md. Babu Hossain as an independent candidate; A.S.M. Mokarrebur Rahman from Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party); Farzana Sharmeen from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the sheaf of paddy symbol; Md. Taiful Islam Tipu as an independent candidate with the pitcher symbol; Md. Abdullahil Baki from Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the hand fan symbol; Md. Ansar Ali from the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh with the spade symbol; A.S.M. Jahangir Hossain as an independent candidate; and Md. Moyazzem Hossain as an independent candidate with the deer symbol.

Elected MPs: Independent candidate Momtaz Uddin won the seat in 1986. Fazlur Rahman Potol of the BNP was elected in 1991, 1996 and again in 2001. In 2008, Abu Talha of the Jatiya Party was elected as a Member of Parliament.

Natore-2 (National Parliament Constituency No. 59): Natore-2 constituency consists of Natore Sadar Upazila and Naldanga Upazila.

Candidates: Eight candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: M. Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the sheaf of paddy symbol; Tahamida Islam Tania from Ganosamhati Andolon with the skullcap symbol; G.A.A. Mubin from the National People’s Party (NPP); Md. Yunus Ali from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the scale symbol; Dr. Md. Nurnabi Mridha as an independent candidate with the football symbol; Md. Rakib Uddin (Komol) from the Jatiya Party with the plough symbol; Sabina Yasmin as an independent candidate; and Mohammad Ali Siddiqui from Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the hand fan symbol.

Elected MPs: In 1991, Shankar Gobinda Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected from this seat. Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu of the BNP won in both 1996 and 2001. In 2008, Md. Ahad Ali Sarker of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected as Member of Parliament.

Natore-3 (National Parliament Constituency No. 60): Natore-3 constituency comprises Singra Upazila of Natore district.

Candidates: Nine candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: Tinku Sardar from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; S.M. Jargis Qadir from the National Citizens Party (NCP) with the water lily symbol; Fatema Khanam as an independent candidate; Md. Anwarul Islam from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the sheaf of paddy symbol; Md. Saidur Rahman from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the scale symbol; Md. Ashik Iqbal from the Jatiya Party with the plough symbol; Md. Khalilur Rahman from Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the hand fan symbol; Md. Delowar Hossain as an independent candidate; and Md. Daudar Mahmud as an independent candidate with the horse symbol.

Elected MPs: Independent candidate Yakub Ali won the seat in 1986. Abu Bakkar Sherkoli of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was elected in 1991. Kazi Golam Morshed of the BNP won in 1996 and again in 2001. In 2008, Junaid Ahmed Palak of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected as Member of Parliament.

Natore-4 (National Parliament Constituency No. 61): Natore-4 constituency consists of Gurudaspur Upazila and Baraigram Upazila of Natore district.

Candidates: Five candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: Md. Abdul Aziz from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the sheaf of paddy symbol; Md. Abdul Hakim from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the scale symbol; Md. Emdadullah from Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the hand fan symbol; Md. Moksedul Momin from Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) with the eagle symbol; and M. Yusuf Ahmed from the Jatiya Party with the plough symbol.

Elected MPs: Abdul Quddus of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected in 1991 and again in 1996. Mozammel Haque of the BNP won the seat in 2001. In 2008, Abdul Quddus was re-elected as a Member of Parliament from the Bangladesh Awami League.