Thirteenth National Parliament Election: Gopalganj District

Gopalganj district has historically been a completely Awami League–dominated area in national parliamentary elections. In every credible and transparent election held in the country’s history, Awami League candidates have been elected from all constituencies in this district with overwhelming dominance. Opposition parties have never been able to seriously challenge the Awami League in any seat here. However, with the Awami League absent from the electoral race this time, the voting scenario in the district has changed. Let us take a closer look at the electoral contests in Gopalganj’s three constituencies.

Gopalganj-1 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 215): Gopalganj-1 consists of Muksudpur upazila and several unions of Kashiani upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 399,510, of whom 202,816 are male and 196,694 are female voters.

Candidates: Nine candidates are contesting in Gopalganj-1 in the Thirteenth National Parliament Election. They include Mohammad Mizanur Rahman from Islami Andolon Bangladesh with the Hand Fan symbol, M. Anisul Islam (Independent, Horse symbol), Ashraful Alam (Independent, Football symbol), Md. Selimuzzaman Mollha from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Paddy Sheaf symbol, Md. Kaiyum Ali Khan (Independent, Pitcher symbol), Muhammad Abdul Hamid Mollah from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the Scale symbol, Nirad Baran Majumdar from the Communist Party of Bangladesh with the Sickle symbol, Md. Kabir Mia from Ganadhikar Parishad (GOP) with the Truck symbol, and Sultan Zaman Khan from the Jatiya Party with the Plough symbol.

Elected MPs: In Gopalganj-1, Kazi Abdur Rashid of the Awami League was elected in 1991, while Faruk Khan of the Awami League won the seat in 1996, 2001, and 2008.

Gopalganj-2 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 216): Gopalganj-2 is composed of Gopalganj Sadar upazila and the Singa, Hatiara, Puishur, Bethuri, Nizamkandi, Orakandi, and Fukra unions of Kashiani upazila. The total number of voters in this constituency is 384,326, including 194,060 male, 190,262 female, and 4 hijra voters.

Candidates: Thirteen candidates are contesting in Gopalganj-2. They include Kamruzzaman Bhuiya (Independent, Telephone symbol), Rani Mollah (Independent, Lock symbol), Mahmud Hasan from the Zaker Party with the Rose symbol, Sipon Bhuiya (Independent, Horse symbol), Shuaib Ibrahim from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis with the Rickshaw symbol, Md. Sirajul Islam Siraj (Independent, Table Clock symbol), Din Mohammad from Ganadhikar Parishad (GOP) with the Truck symbol, Utpal Biswas (Independent, Football symbol), M. H. Khan Manju (Independent, Deer symbol), Shah Mofiz with the Rising Sun symbol, K. M. Babar from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Paddy Sheaf symbol, Taslim Shikdar from Islami Andolon Bangladesh with the Hand Fan symbol, and Riyaz Sarwar Mollah from the Jatiya Party with the Plough symbol.

Elected MPs: Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim of the Awami League was elected from Gopalganj-2 in 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and again in 2008.

Gopalganj-3 (Parliamentary Constituency No. 217): Gopalganj-3 consists of Tungipara and Kotalipara upazilas. The total number of voters in this constituency is 308,784, including 158,403 male, 150,380 female, and 1 hijra voter.

Candidates: Eight candidates are contesting in Gopalganj-3. They include Gobinda Chandra Pramanik (Independent, Horse symbol), Md. Maruf Sheikh from Islami Andolon Bangladesh with the Hand Fan symbol, Md. Habibur Rahman (Independent, Football symbol), A. Aziz from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis with the Rickshaw symbol, Sheikh Salauddin from the National People’s Party (NPP) with the Mango symbol, Dulal Chandra Biswas from Gano Forum with the Rising Sun symbol, S. M. Jilani from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the Paddy Sheaf symbol, and Abul Basar from Ganadhikar Parishad (GOP) with the Truck symbol.

Elected MPs: In Gopalganj-3, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was elected as a Member of Parliament in 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2008.