Nomination seekers of the ruling Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (AL) are now very active ahead of the next general elections in the Chattogram-3 constituency.
The constituency encompasses Sandwip Upazila.
However, leaders of other parties, including the opposition Jatiya Party, JatiyaSamajtantrik Dal (JSD) have not launched campaigns yet in the Island upazila Sandwip.
But both the local AL and BNP have been divided into several groups over nominations.
On the other side, BNP aspirants are staging demonstrations, rallies and meetings as part of their 'one-point' movement with the goal to remove the AL from power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government.
MahfuzurRahaman has been representing the ruling AL in the National Parliament from Chattogram-3 constituency since 2014 as a Member of Parliament (MP).
The constituency was created for the first general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973.
Ahead of the 2014 general election, the Election Commission renumbered the seat for Sandwip Upazila from Chattogram-16 to Chattogram-3, bumping up by one the suffix of the former constituency of that name and the higher numbered constituencies in the district.
Previously Chattogram-3 encompassed Sitakunda Upazila and Chattogram City Corporation wards 9 and 10.
ObaidulHuq of AL became the first MP from this constituency in the general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973 while Gano Front candidate AKM RafiqUllah Choudhury contested the general elections held in 1979 and won the seat.
However, AKM Shamsul Huda contested the general elections held in 1986 as an AL candidate and won the seat while AlhazMustafizur Rahman, an independent candidate contested the general elections held in 1991 and became the MP.
Mostafa Kamal Pasha of BNP contested the February general elections held in 1996 and won the seat.
But, AlhazMustafizur Rahman, who got an AL ticket, contested the June general elections held in the same year and became a lawmaker from the constituency again.
However, Mostafa Kamal Pasha of BNP contested the general elections held in 2001 and regained the seat.
In 2008 general elections ABM AbulKashem of AL contested the polls and won the seat.
The incumbent AL lawmaker MahfuzurRahaman contested the two general elections held in 2014 and 2018 and won the past two consecutives polls.
Sandwip, an island in the Bay of Bengal, which once was the neglected island’, is now connected with the national power grid using submarine cable.
After years of living in darkness without electricity, the residents of the island are now seeing light.
Lack of power has prevented industries and urbanisation from flourishing.
But among the upazilas, Sandwip ranks second in terms of receiving remittance, according to the central bank.
According to locals, this change is the reflection of the pledge made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her Sandwip visit in 2012.
Now, Bangladesh Small Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has planned to develop a Tourism Industrial Park in the Island upazila Sandwip.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority has also proposed to build up an Economic zone in the island upazila.
Therefore, this constituency, which is surrounded by sea, is very important to all political parties especially AL and BNP.
As the next general elections approach local leaders of the ruling AL are hectically lobbying party high-ups to secure their respective parties nominations.
Boosted by the ruling party’s success in the recent development in the Island upazila Sandwip, they have already started informal campaigns for the next general polls to get party ticket.
They are also holding meetings with party men and carrying out mass contacts in their constituency.
But the picture is completely different in the BNP camp.
The grassroots leaders of the party are in confusion over their party’s participation in the polls.
However, two BNP leaders are scrambling for the party ticket to run for the Chattogram-3 general election slated for December this year or January next.
The Jatiya Party, the main opposition in parliament, will also field a candidate to contest the next general elections.
The incumbent AL lawmaker MahfuzurRahaman, son of former AL lawmaker AlhazMustafizur Rahman, Prof DrJamaluddin Chowdhury President of SwadhinataChikitsakParishad (Swachip), a pro-AL professional body of physicians and local AL leader and freedom fighter Rafiqul Islam will seek party (AL) ticket to contest the next general elections from this constituency.
A crack developed between the incumbent lawmaker MahfuzurRahaman and Jamaluddin Chowdhury intensifying the party’s internal feuds in the constituency.
But expressing his (MahfuzurRahaman) confidence about the AL’s victory in the next national elections, MahfuzurRahaman said they remain alert to internal conflicts so that it does not miss out on the “certain win”.
“The upcoming national election is very much important. There’s win and loss in elections; make sure these don’t tarnish AL’s image; work together so that we could serve the people of this island,” he said.
He said it is very much important to gain the trust and confidence of voters.
“The election is getting closer. It’s knocking at the door. We’ve to win the election... people are with me and they're ready to vote for me,” MahfuzurRahaman said.
AL candidate Jamal Uddin Chowdhury was defeated by BNP candidate Mostafa Kamal Pasha at the constituency in 2008 while rebel candidate Mahfuzur Rahman Mita fought independently.
Since then AL is divided into two parts in the upazila one is led by Mahfuzur Rahman while other is led by Jamal Uddin Chowdhury.
The factions have been carrying out political programmes separately across the constituency.
However, AL-backed incumbent lawmaker Mahfuzur Rahman has strong influence in the area for his and his father's outstanding contribution to development activities for a long time.
Talking to journalists, local AL leaders and activists said the internal conflicts among the BNP leaders will also help the AL candidate to win.
Apart from AL, the AL-led 14-party and JatiyaSamajtantrik Dal central leader NurulAkter will also seek nomination to contest the next general elections.
On the other hand, if BNP participates in the next national elections, former BNP lawmaker Mostafa Kamal Pasha will seek party nomination to contest the national elections.
Apart from him (Mostafa Kamal) Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi expatriate in the USA, also wants to contest the next general elections.
They (Mostafa Kamal and Mizanur Rahman) are maintaining constant communications with the party high command in order to get a party ticket.
Former lawmaker Mostafa Kamal Pasha and US expatriate Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan are in the race for getting party nomination from offshore island constituency Chattogram-3, according to party insiders.
Insiders said the upazila unit of BNP is divided into three factions led by separate leaders.
But, former lawmaker Kamal Pasha is ahead of his rivals in getting party nomination.
Some leaders from IslamiAndolan and Oikya Front will also contest the national elections.
Besides, local leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami are also taking preparations silently for contesting the next general elections though they are yet to confirm whether their party will be allowed to participate in the national polls.
