13th National Parliamentary Election: Madaripur District

Madaripur is traditionally regarded as an Awami League–dominated district in national parliamentary elections. In all elections in Bangladesh’s history that are considered free and fair, Awami League candidates have won the seats here with overwhelming dominance. Opposition parties have never been able to pose a serious challenge to the Awami League in any constituency of this district. However, with the Awami League absent from the electoral race this time, the voting landscape in Madaripur has changed. Below is an overview of the electoral contest in Madaripur’s three parliamentary constituencies.

Madaripur-1 (National Parliamentary Seat No. 218): Madaripur-1 constituency comprises Shibchar Upazila of the district. The total number of voters in this seat is 324,289, including 169,041 male, 155,246 female, and 2 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of 10 candidates are contesting in Madaripur-1 in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. They include: Rajib Mollah (Truck symbol) from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP); Kamal Zaman Mollah (Ship symbol), independent; Sazzad Hossain Siddiqui (Football symbol), independent; Md. Imran Hasan (Deer symbol), independent; Nadira Akhtar (Sheaf of Paddy symbol) from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); Mohammad Jahirul Islam Mintu (Plough symbol) from Jatiya Party; Md. Hafizur Rahman (Pineapple symbol) from Bangladesh Labour Party; Abdul Ali from the Communist Party of Bangladesh; Akram Hossain (Hand Fan symbol) from Islami Andolon Bangladesh; and Saeed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala (Rickshaw symbol) from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.

Previous Results: In 1991, Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury was elected from the Awami League. In the 1991 by-election, and later in 1996, 2001, and 2008, Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury of the Awami League won the seat.

Madaripur-2 (National Parliamentary Seat No. 219): Madaripur-2 constituency consists of Rajoir Upazila and Madaripur Sadar Upazila. The total number of voters in this seat is 436,233, including 223,624 male, 212,601 female, and 8 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of 10 candidates are contesting in this constituency. They include: Md. Mohidul Islam (Plough symbol) from Jatiya Party; Mohammad Didar Hossain (Scissors symbol) from the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist); Abdus Sobahan (Rickshaw symbol) from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; Md. Jahandar Ali Mia (Sheaf of Paddy symbol) from BNP; Subal Chandra Majumder (Wristwatch symbol) from Bangladesh Kalyan Party; Ali Ahmad Chowdhury (Hand Fan symbol) from Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Md. Reyajul Islam (Horse symbol), independent; Md. Kamrul Islam Saeed (Deer symbol), independent; Milton Baidya (Pitcher symbol), independent; and Shahidul Islam Khan (Motorcycle symbol), independent.

Previous Results: In 1991, Abdur Razzak of the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League was elected. In the 1991 by-election, Shahjahan Khan of the Awami League won the seat, and he was re-elected in 1996, 2001, and 2008.

Madaripur-3 (National Parliamentary Seat No. 220): Madaripur-3 constituency comprises Kalkini Upazila, Dasar Upazila, and the Khoyajpur, Jhaudi, Ghatmajhi, Mostafapur, and Kendua unions of Madaripur Sadar Upazila. The total number of voters in this seat is 387,806, including 202,645 male, 185,159 female, and 2 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of 5 candidates are contesting in this constituency. They include: Md. Azizul Haque (Hand Fan symbol) from Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Nitai Chakraborty (Ektara symbol) from Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP); Anisur Rahman (Sheaf of Paddy symbol) from BNP; Md. Rafiqul Islam (Scales symbol) from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami; and Aminul Islam (Ladder symbol) from the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (BASAD).

Previous Results: In 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2008, Syed Abul Hossain of the Awami League was elected as a Member of Parliament from Madaripur-3.