Bogura-6 by-poll: Jamaat relies on defeated candidate, BNP relies on symbol

A new reckoning has begun after Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman gave up the Bogura-6 (Sadar) seat. The district's politics have become heated again as this seat, which BNP won by a huge margin in the 13th National Parliament election, has now become a by-election ground.

There is a popular saying in Bogura, 'Even if you plant a banana tree from BNP in this district, it will win'. This saying is especially heard in Bogura-6 (Sadar) and Bogura-7 (Shajahanpur-Gabatoli) seats. These two seats are known as the strongholds of the Zia family. As a result, the symbol of the sheaf of paddy, not the individual, is the main strength of BNP in Bogura-6.

On the other hand, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is entering the fight by relying on its organizational vote bank and supporters. Along with this, the personal acceptability of the candidate will also have an important impact on the by-election.

Permanent leaders and activists of BNP say that Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 seats are the seats of the Zia family. Any candidate against the paddy sheaf here will be defeated by a huge margin.

In the recently concluded 13th National Parliament election, Tarique Rahman received 216,286 votes under the paddy sheaf symbol. His closest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel, received 97,626 votes under the scale symbol. Despite his huge defeat, Jamaat-e-Islami has fielded the same Sohel again.

On Saturday (February 28) afternoon, he collected his nomination papers from District Election Officer and Returning Officer Md. Fazlul Karim. Abidur Rahman Sohel is the Ameer of Bogura City unit Jamaat-e-Islami.

Earlier, after receiving the party nomination, District BNP President and former Mayor of Bogura Municipality Rezaul Karim Badsha collected his nomination papers from the office of District Senior Election Officer Md. Fazlul Karim on Friday (February 27) afternoon.

When asked, BNP candidate Rezaul Karim Badsha told Views Bangladesh, "I am 100 percent optimistic about winning the by-election."

Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel told Views Bangladesh, "It was complicated to run with Tarique Rahman. Now, the matter of Rezaul Karim Badsha is not that complicated."