Campaigning for the next general elections has begun in the Bogura constituency-7. Except for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), leaders of the Awami League (AL), Jatiya Party and other political parties along with their workers and supporters are now busy campaigning for the national polls.
The candidates are seen meeting voters irrespective of age, sex and creed and caste with leaflets to drum up support.
Flanked by a large number of party leaders and workers the Member of Parliament (MP) contestants are also seen meeting people seeking their support.
Several parts of the constituency got a new look with huge posters, banners and festoons.
Independent politician Rezaul Karim Bablu has been representing the JatiyaSangsad since 2019 from the Bogura constituency-7.
The constituency encompasses Gabtali and Shajahanpurupazilas.
As the military dictator and founder of BNP Ziaur Rahman was born in the village of Bagbari in Gabtali of Bogura District, this constituency is very important to all political parties.
The Bogura constituency- 7 is known as a BNP stronghold since 1979 as Zia used to frequently visit his village home. Therefore, this seat is also known as BNP bastions.
Khaleda Zia won the seat in the several national elections and quit it for HelaluzzamanTalukder, who also won the Bogura constituency-7 and became the lawmaker three times.
Talking to journalists HelaluzzamanTalukder said the leaders and workers of BNP are working for the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was convicted in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman who is now absconding, the prime convict said to be the mastermind of 21 August 2004 terrorist grenade attack on an AL public rally.
“I did never seek party nomination as my leader and party Chairperson Khaleda Zia selected me to contest the by-polls. I contested all the by-polls and I won the seat again and again,” HelaluzzamanTalukder said.
Dismissing all speculations about the party’s subtle strategy to take part in national polls, he categorically said their party is not joining the next general elections.
“Our high command has made it very clear that we are not joining the next national elections under the Awami League government. Therefore, we are observing the latest development in the country’s political arena. We are now eagerly waiting for our party decision,” he added.
Morshed Milton, President of Gabtali unit of BNP said the current regime will be forced to concede to their demand for holding the next election under a non-party government as their party is going to launch a different type of movement involving the masses.
“If the election is held under a non-party government and BNP joins the polls, I will seek nomination to contest the polls from the constituency. My party had given me a nomination to contest the general election in 2018,” Milton said.
Therefore, the BNP is focusing on drumming up support for a non-partisan election-time government.
On the other hand, Doctor Mostafa AlamNannu, President of Bogura district unit of Bangladesh Medical Association, Principal ShahadatAlamJhunu, Organising Secretary of Bogura district unit of AL and Asadur Rahman Dulu, Joint General Secretary of Bogura district unit of AL, are carrying out hectic campaigns in the constituency.
They also greeted the local people and wished them ‘Eid Mubarak’ on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Talking to reporters Mostafa AlamNannu said he has been going to every corner of the constituency since long.
“The Awami League government has brought the country back from horrible situations and carried out economic development. But, they (BNP) don't feel good,” he added.
He said Bangladesh witnessed a peaceful handover of power only once and that was done by Awami League in 2001, but people, administration, police and armed forces of the country as well as leaders and activists of Awami League had to pay a huge cost for it.
“Therefore, we think people will not be misguided by the BNP’s falsehoods and propagandas” he said.
The AL local leaders are also scrambling for the party ticket to run for the Bogura-7 constituency in the next general election that would be held in the first week of January 2024.
Besides, RafiqueNewaz Khan, Chairman of GabtaliUpazila, said he will seek his party (AL) nomination to contest the polls.
“It completely depends on my party who will get the nomination from this constituency. The person who gets the party ticket, I will work for him. But, I will also seek nomination,” he added.
Aminul Islam SarkerPintu and Altaf Ali, who won the seat as Jatiya Party candidates in 1986 and 2014, also want to contest the next general elections.
Apart from them, Lutfor Rahman Sarkar Swapan and Abdullah Al Mamun will also seek Jatiya Party nomination to contest the elections.
On the other hand, incumbent lawmaker Rezaul Karim Bablu said he will contest the next general elections as an Independent candidate.
“I’m developing communication systems across the constituency. The government has given me the opportunity to establish a road communication network in my constituency. I, along with the local administration, also constructed several bridges and culverts here,” he said.
“I believe if I get a party ticket and contest the next general polls, I will win as people cast their vote in favour of me,” Rezaul Karim Bablu added.
A certain section of common people, including young voters, are taking interest in electioneering of candidates, having achieved to gain the confidence that the election will be held in a peaceful, credible and competitive manner.
However, the expected level of election excitement, which should have been witnessed by this time, is still missing as all the political parties are still not there in the field with their full strength.
It seems they are conserving energy to use at the last moment.
The constituency was created for the first general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973.
Ahead of the 2008 general election, the Election Commission redrew the constituency boundaries to reflect population changes revealed by the 2001 Bangladesh census.
AL candidate Amanullah Khan became the first Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bogura constituency-7 in the first general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973.
BNP candidate Habibur Rahman won the seat in 1979, Jatiya Party candidate Aminul Islam Sarker in 1986, BNP candidate HelaluzzamanTalukderLalu won the seat in 1991, 1996 and 2001 by-elections and BNP candidate Moudud Ahmed also won the seat in the 2009 by-election.
Jatiya Party candidate Altaf Ali won the seat in 2014 while Independent candidate Rezaul Karim Bablu in 2018.
Khaleda Zia stood for three seats in the 2008 general election: Bogra-6, Bogra-7, and Feni-1.
After winning all three, she chose to represent Feni-1 and quit the other two, triggering by-elections in them.
Moudud Ahmed of the BNP was elected in an April 2009 by-election.
Besides, Khaleda Zia stood for five seats in the 2001 general election: Bogra-6, Bogra-7, Khulna-2, Feni-1, and Lakshmipur-2.
After winning all five, she chose to represent Bogra-6 and quit the other four, triggering by-elections in them.
HelaluzzamanTalukderLalu of the BNP was elected in a November 2001 by-election.
Khaleda Zia stood for five seats in the June 1996 general election: Bogra-6, Bogra-7, Feni-1, Lakshmipur-2 and Chattogram-1.
She (Khaleda Zia) stood for five seats in the 1991 general election: Bogra-7, Dhaka-5, Dhaka-9, Feni-1, and Chattogram-8.
After winning all five, she chose to represent Feni-1 and quit the other four, triggering by-elections in them.
HelaluzzamanTalukderLalu of the BNP was elected in a September 1991 by-election and in a September 1996 by-election.