13th National Parliamentary Election: Sylhet District

The electoral contest in Sylhet district has intensified this time. With the Awami League not participating in the election, voters in the district are recalculating their political choices. Although the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election is expected to see primary competition between candidates from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, the Jatiya Party may also emerge as a surprise contender. Below is an overview of the electoral contests in the six parliamentary constituencies of Sylhet district.

Sylhet-1 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 229) : Sylhet-1 constituency consists of Sylhet City Corporation and Sylhet Sadar Upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 680,946, including 353,186 male, 327,747 female, and 13 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of eight candidates are contesting in this constituency. Sanjoy Kanta Das is contesting with the Scissors symbol from the Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist). Mohammad Anwar Hossain is contesting with the Sickle symbol from the Communist Party of Bangladesh. Akmal Hossain is contesting with the Truck symbol from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP). Md. Shamim Mia is contesting with the Apple symbol from Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh. Mahmudul Hasan is contesting with the Hand Fan symbol from Islami Andolon Bangladesh. Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Pronob Jyoti Pal is contesting with the Spade symbol from the Bangladesh Socialist Party–BASAD. Maulana Habibur Rahman is contesting with the Scales symbol from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Khandaker Abdul Malik of the BNP was elected as Member of Parliament. In the June 1996 election, Awami League candidate Humayun Rashid Chowdhury won the seat. In the 2001 election, BNP candidate Saifur Rahman was elected. In the 2008 election, the seat returned to the Awami League, with Abul Maal Abdul Muhith being elected as Member of Parliament.

Sylhet-2 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 230): Sylhet-2 constituency comprises Bishwanath Upazila and Osmani Nagar Upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 368,932, including 188,679 male, 180,253 female, and no third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of five candidates are contesting in this constituency. Mujibul Haque is contesting with the Rising Sun symbol from Gano Forum. Muhammad Muntasir Ali is contesting with the Wall Clock symbol from Khelafat Majlis. Md. Amir Uddin is contesting with the Hand Fan symbol from Islami Andolon Bangladesh. Mahbubur Rahman is contesting with the Plough symbol from the Jatiya Party. Ms. Tahsina Rushdi is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Previous Results: In the June 1996 National Parliamentary Election, Awami League candidate Shah Azizur Rahman was elected as Member of Parliament. In the 2001 election, the seat was won by BNP candidate M. Ilias Ali. In the 2008 election, Awami League candidate Shafikur Rahman Chowdhury was elected as Member of Parliament.

Sylhet-3 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 231): Sylhet-3 constituency consists of Dakshin Surma Upazila, Fenchuganj Upazila, and Balaganj Upazila. Previously, only three unions of Balaganj Upazila—Dewan Bazar, Purba Gauripur, and Paschim Gauripur—were included. Following the 2018 boundary re-demarcation, all unions of Balaganj Upazila were incorporated into the constituency. The total number of voters in this constituency is 416,000, including 211,709 male, 204,289 female, and 2 third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of six candidates are contesting in this constituency. Mostakim Raja Chowdhury is contesting as an independent candidate with the Football symbol. Musleh Uddin Raju is contesting with the Rickshaw symbol from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. Mainul Bakr is contesting as an independent candidate with the Computer symbol. Mohammad Abdul Malik is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Mohammad Atiqur Rahman is contesting with the Plough symbol from the Jatiya Party. Redwanul Haque Chowdhury is contesting with the Hand Fan symbol from Islami Andolon Bangladesh.

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Abdul Mukit Khan of the Jatiya Party won the seat. He was re-elected in the June 1996 election. In the 2001 election, BNP candidate Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury captured the seat. In the 2008 election, Awami League candidate Mahmud-us-Samad Chowdhury was elected as Member of Parliament.

Sylhet-4 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 232) : Sylhet-4 constituency consists of Companiganj Upazila, Gowainghat Upazila, and Jaintapur Upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 512,933, including 267,130 male, 245,802 female, and 1 third-gender voter.

Candidates: A total of five candidates are contesting in this constituency. Md. Joynal Abedin is contesting with the Scales symbol from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Ariful Haque Chowdhury is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Mohammad Mojibur Rahman is contesting with the Plough symbol from the Jatiya Party. Maulana Said Ahmed is contesting with the Hand Fan symbol from Islami Andolon Bangladesh. Zahirul Islam is contesting with the Truck symbol from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP).

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Awami League candidate Imran Ahmed was elected as Member of Parliament. He was re-elected in the September 1996 by-election. In the 2001 election, BNP candidate Dildar Hossain Selim won the seat. In the 2008 election, Awami League candidate Imran Ahmed was re-elected as Member of Parliament.

Sylhet-5 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 233) : Sylhet-5 constituency comprises Kanaighat Upazila and Zakiganj Upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 428,748, including 221,357 male, 207,391 female, and no third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of four candidates are contesting in this constituency. Ubaidullah Faruq is contesting with the Date Palm Tree symbol from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh. Mohammad Abul Hasan is contesting with the Wall Clock symbol from Khelafat Majlis. Md. Bilal Uddin is contesting with the Hurricane Lamp symbol from Bangladesh Muslim League. Mamunur Rashid is contesting as an independent candidate with the Football symbol.

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Obaidul Haque of the Islami Oikya Jote won the seat. In the June 1996 election, Awami League candidate Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder was elected as Member of Parliament. In the 2001 election, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Farid Uddin Chowdhury captured the seat. In the 2008 election, Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder was re-elected from the Awami League.

Sylhet-6 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 234) : Sylhet-6 constituency consists of Beanibazar Upazila and Golapganj Upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 509,093, including 256,938 male, 252,155 female, and no third-gender voters.

Candidates: A total of five candidates are contesting in this constituency. Mohammad Selim Uddin is contesting with the Scales symbol from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Md. Fakhrul Islam is contesting as an independent candidate with the Helicopter symbol. Mohammad Abadun Noor is contesting with the Plough symbol from the Jatiya Party. Zahidur Rahman is contesting with the Truck symbol from Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP). Emran Ahmed Chowdhury is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Previous Results: In the 1991 National Parliamentary Election, Sharaf Uddin Khosru of the Jatiya Party won the seat. In the June 1996 election, Awami League candidate Nurul Islam Nahid was elected as Member of Parliament. In the 2001 election, the seat was won by independent candidate Syed Mokbul Hossain. In the 2008 election, Nurul Islam Nahid was re-elected as Member of Parliament from the Awami League.