13th National Parliament Elections: Rajshahi District

Full-scale election campaigning has begun in BNP-dominated Rajshahi district for the 13th National Parliament elections. In previous elections (except the last three), the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) showed dominance in the district’s six constituencies, although the Awami League also won several seats in different polls. This time, as the Awami League is not participating in the election, the electoral calculations have changed. Here is an overview of the electoral contests in Rajshahi’s six constituencies.

Rajshahi-1 (National Parliament Constituency No. 52): Rajshahi-1 constituency comprises Godagari Upazila and Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi district.

Candidates: A total of five candidates are contesting in Rajshahi-1 in the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections. They are: Md. Al-Saad, an independent candidate contesting with the Mobile Phone symbol; Mir Md. Shahjahan of Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) with the Truck symbol; Md. Sharif Uddin of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol; Md. Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the Scales symbol; and Md. Abdur Rahman of Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) with the Eagle symbol.

Elected MPs: Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was elected in 1986. Aminul Haque of the BNP won in 1991, 1996 and again in 2001. In 2008, Omar Faruk Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected.

Rajshahi-2 (National Parliament Constituency No. 53): Rajshahi-2 constituency consists of the Rajshahi City Corporation area.

Candidates: Six candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: Mohammad Shamsul Alam of Nagorik Oikya with the Kettle symbol; Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol; Md. Mezboul Islam of the Bangladesh Labour Party with the Pineapple symbol; Mohammad Jahangir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the Scales symbol; Saleh Ahmed, an independent candidate with the Motorcycle symbol; and Mu Saeed Noman of Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) with the Eagle symbol.

Elected MPs: Mesbah Uddin Ahmed of the Jatiya Party was elected in 1986. Kabir Hossain of the BNP won in 1991 and again in 1996. Mizanur Rahman Minu of the BNP was elected in 2001. In 2008, Fazle Hossain Badsha of the Workers Party of Bangladesh was elected.

Rajshahi-3 (National Parliament Constituency No. 54): Rajshahi-3 constituency comprises Paba Upazila and Mohanpur Upazila of Rajshahi district.

Candidates: Five candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: Md. Afzal Hossain of the Jatiya Party with the Plough symbol; Mohammad Shafiqul Haque Milon of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol; Md. Fazlur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the Hand Fan symbol; Md. Sayed Parvez of Amjanatar Dal with the Butterfly symbol; and Md. Abul Kalam Azad of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the Scales symbol.

Elected MPs: Sardar Amjad Hossain was elected in 1986 from the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League and again in 1991 from the Jatiya Party. Abu Hena of the BNP won in 1996 and 2001. In 2008, Meraj Uddin Mollah of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected.

Rajshahi-4 (National Parliament Constituency No. 55) : Rajshahi-4 constituency consists of Bagmara Upazila of Rajshahi district.

Candidates: Three candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: D.M.D. Ziaur Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol; Md. Abdul Bari Sardar of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the Scales symbol; and Md. Tajul Islam Khan of Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the Hand Fan symbol.

Elected MPs: Ayen Uddin of the Bangladesh Muslim League was elected in 1986. Tajul Islam Mohammad Faruk of the Bangladesh Awami League won in 1991. Nadim Mostafa of the BNP was elected in 1996 and again in 2001. In 2008, Enamul Haque of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected.

Rajshahi-5 (National Parliament Constituency No. 56): Rajshahi-5 constituency comprises Puthia Upazila and Durgapur Upazila of Rajshahi district.

Candidates: Seven candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: Md. Altaf Hossain Molla of Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP) with the One-Stringed Lute symbol; Prof. Nazrul Islam of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol; Md. Ruhul Amin of Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the Hand Fan symbol; Md. Raihan Kawsar, an independent candidate with the Motorcycle symbol; Md. Isfa Khairul Haque, an independent candidate with the Horse symbol; Manjur Rahman of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the Scales symbol; and Rezaul Karim, an independent candidate with the Football symbol.

Elected MPs: Azizur Rahman of the BNP was elected in 1991. Md. Alauddin of the BNP won in 1996. In the 1999 by-election, Md. Alauddin of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected, followed by Raihanul Haque of the Awami League in the 2000 by-election. Kabir Hossain of the BNP won in 2001. In 2008, Abdul Wadud of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected.

Rajshahi-6 (National Parliament Constituency No. 57): Rajshahi-6 constituency comprises Charghat Upazila and Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi district.

Candidates: Seven candidates are contesting in this constituency. They are: Md. Altaf Hossain Molla of Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP) with the One-Stringed Lute symbol; Prof. Nazrul Islam of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol; Md. Ruhul Amin of Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the Hand Fan symbol; Md. Raihan Kawsar, an independent candidate with the Motorcycle symbol; Md. Isfa Khairul Haque, an independent candidate with the Horse symbol; Manjur Rahman of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the Scales symbol; and Rezaul Karim, an independent candidate with the Football symbol.

Elected MPs: After the redrawing of constituency boundaries, Shahriar Alam of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected in 2008. Under the previous boundaries, Atowar Rahman Talukdar of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected in 1973, and Mohammad Makbul Hossain of the BNP won in 1979.