13th National Parliamentary Election: Shariatpur District

In the history of Bangladesh’s national parliamentary elections, Shariatpur district has long been known as an Awami League–dominated area. From 1991 to 2008, Awami League candidates secured decisive victories in all three constituencies of the district in almost every parliamentary election held during that period. Opposition parties were never able to pose a significant challenge to the Awami League’s dominance in Shariatpur. However, with the Awami League absent from the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the political equation in Shariatpur has undergone a major shift. As a result, a new level of competition and uncertainty has emerged in the electoral arena. Below is an overview of the electoral contests in Shariatpur’s three parliamentary constituencies.

Shariatpur-1 (National Parliamentary Seat No. 221): Shariatpur-1 constituency comprises Shariatpur Sadar Upazila and Jajira Upazila. The total number of voters in this seat is 395,476, including 207,730 male, 187,736 female, and 10 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of eight candidates are contesting in Shariatpur-1 in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. They include: Mohammad Golam Mostafa (Horse symbol), independent; Md. Abdur Rahman (Shapla Bud symbol) from National Citizen Party (NCP); Md. Tofayel Ahmed (Hand Fan symbol) from Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Nur Mohammad Mia (Ektara symbol) from Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP); Firoz Ahmed (Truck symbol) from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP); Saeed Ahmed (Sheaf of Paddy symbol) from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); Jalaluddin Ahmad (Rickshaw symbol) from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; and Syed Nazrul Islam (Motorcycle symbol), independent.

Previous Results: In 1991, Abdur Razzak of the Awami League was elected. In the 1991 by-election, K. M. Hemayet Ullah Aurangzeb of the Awami League won the seat. In 1996, Abdur Razzak of the Awami League was elected, followed by Mojibur Rahman of the Awami League in the 1996 by-election. In 2001, independent candidate K. M. Hemayet Ullah Aurangzeb won the seat, and in 2008, B. M. Mozammel Haque of the Awami League was elected as Member of Parliament.

Shariatpur-2 (National Parliamentary Seat No. 222): Shariatpur-2 constituency consists of Naria Upazila and Sakhipur Thana of Shariatpur district. The total number of voters in this seat is 415,135, including 215,993 male, 199,140 female, and 2 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of nine candidates are contesting in this constituency. They include: Md. Safiqur Rahman (Kiron) (Sheaf of Paddy symbol) from BNP; Akhtaruzzaman Samrat (Truck symbol) from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP); Jasim Uddin (Plough symbol) from Jatiya Party; Md. Nasir (Sofa symbol), independent; Mahmudul Hasan (Banyan Tree symbol) from Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon; Parvez Mosharraf (Pen symbol) from Janatar Dal; Imran Hossain (Hand Fan symbol) from Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Mahmud Hossain (Scales symbol) from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami; and Md. Alamgir Hossain (Computer symbol), independent.

Previous Results: In the national parliamentary elections of 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2008, Shawkat Ali of the Awami League was elected as Member of Parliament from Shariatpur-2.

Shariatpur-3 (National Parliamentary Seat No. 223): Shariatpur-3 constituency comprises Damudya Upazila, Gosairhat Upazila, and Bhedarganj Upazila of the district. The total number of voters in this seat is 340,142, including 174,068 male, 166,072 female, and 2 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of four candidates are contesting in this constituency. They include: Hanif Mia (Hand Fan symbol) from Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Md. Abdul Hannan (Plough symbol) from Jatiya Party; Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu (Sheaf of Paddy symbol) from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); and Muhammad Azaharul Islam (Scales symbol) from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Previous Results: In the national parliamentary elections of 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2008, Abdur Razzak of the Awami League was elected as Member of Parliament from Shariatpur-3.