13th National Parliamentary Election: Sunamganj District

In Sunamganj district, the Awami League and the BNP have historically remained almost evenly matched in electoral contests. The results of nearly all national parliamentary elections held in the country—except for the last three elections—reflect this pattern. However, with the Awami League absent from the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the electoral landscape in Sunamganj has changed significantly. This time, the primary contest is expected to take place mainly between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Below is an overview of the five parliamentary constituencies in Sunamganj district.

Sunamganj-1 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 224): Sunamganj-1 constituency comprises Dharmapasha Upazila, Madhyanagar Upazila, Tahirpur Upazila, and Jamalganj Upazila of Sunamganj district. The total number of voters in this constituency is 501,555, including 256,185 male, 245,360 female, and 10 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of three candidates are contesting in this constituency. Tofayel Ahmad is contesting with the Scales symbol from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Kamruzzaman Kamrul is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Maulana Mujammil Haque Talukder is contesting with the Book symbol from the Bangladesh Nezame-e-Islam Party.

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Nazir Hossain from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) was elected as Member of Parliament. In the June 1996 election, Awami League candidate Syed Rafiqul Haque won the seat. In the 2001 election, the seat changed hands again, with BNP candidate Nazir Hossain being elected. In the 2008 election, Awami League candidate Moazzem Hossain Ratan was elected as Member of Parliament.

Sunamganj-2 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 225): Sunamganj-2 constituency consists of Dirai Upazila and Shalla Upazila of Sunamganj district. The total number of voters in this seat is 306,052, including 154,652 male, 151,399 female, and 1 third-gender voter.

Candidates: A total of three candidates are contesting in this constituency. Niranjan Das is contesting with the Sickle symbol from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB). Md. Nasir Chowdhury is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Mohammad Shishir Monir is contesting with the Scales symbol from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Suranjit Sengupta of the Democratic Party won the seat. In the June 1996 election, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury of the Jatiya Party (Ershad) captured the seat. In both the 2001 and 2008 elections, Awami League candidate Suranjit Sengupta was re-elected as Member of Parliament.

Sunamganj-3 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 226) : Sunamganj-3 constituency comprises Jagannathpur Upazila and Shantiganj Upazila of the district. The total number of voters in this constituency is 373,016, including 189,243 male, 183,767 female, and 6 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of seven candidates are contesting in this constituency. Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad is contesting with the Wall Clock symbol from Khelafat Majlis. Md. Anwar Hossain is contesting as an independent candidate with the Lock symbol. Mohammad Qaysar Ahmed is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Khaled (Tushar) is contesting as an independent candidate with the Table Clock symbol. Mohammad Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury is contesting with the Rickshaw symbol from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. Hossain Ahmed is contesting as an independent candidate with the Football symbol. Syed Talha Alam is contesting with the Eagle symbol from Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party).

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Awami League candidate Abdus Samad Azad was elected as Member of Parliament. He was re-elected in the June 1996 and 2001 elections. In the 2005 by-election, the seat was won by Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. In the 2008 election, Awami League candidate M. A. Mannan was elected as Member of Parliament.

Sunamganj-4 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 227) : Sunamganj-4 constituency consists of Bishwambharpur Upazila and Sunamganj Sadar Upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 372,185, including 189,359 male, 182,813 female, and 13 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of five candidates are contesting in this constituency. Md. Nazmul Huda is contesting with the Plough symbol from the Jatiya Party. Dewan Zainul Zakarin is contesting as an independent candidate with the Motorcycle symbol. Nurul Islam is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Md. Shams Uddin is contesting with the Scales symbol from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Shahidul Islam is contesting with the Hand Fan symbol from Islami Andolon Bangladesh.

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Abdus Zahur Mia of the Awami League was elected as Member of Parliament. In the June 1996 and 2001 elections, the seat remained with BNP candidate Fazlul Haque Aspia. In the 2008 election, Begum Momtaz Iqbal of the Jatiya Party (Ershad) was elected as Member of Parliament.

Sunamganj-5 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 228): Sunamganj-5 constituency comprises Dowarabazar Upazila and Chhatak Upazila of the district. The total number of voters in this constituency is 527,458, including 270,620 male, 256,836 female, and 2 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of five candidates are contesting in this constituency. Mohammad Jahangir Alam is contesting with the Plough symbol from the Jatiya Party. Abu Tahir Muhammad Abdus Salam is contesting with the Scales symbol from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Kalim Uddin Ahmed is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Md. Azizul Haque is contesting with the Mango symbol from the National People’s Party (NPP). Mohammad Abdul Qadir is contesting with the Wall Clock symbol from Khelafat Majlis.

Previous Results: In the 1991 election, Abdul Majid of the Jatiya Party (Ershad) won the seat. In the February 1996 election, Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon won as an independent candidate. In the June 1996 election, Muhibur Rahman Manik of the Awami League was elected. In the 2001 election, Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon won the seat again, this time as a BNP candidate. In the 2008 election, Muhibur Rahman Manik was re-elected from the Awami League.