Multiple candidates are active in Awami League (AL), keeping in touch with the party’s high command to get party ticket for contesting the next general election from the Chattogram-8 constituency.
Besides, they stay close to voters through political and social activities.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is facing leadership crisis and division in the Chattogram-8 constituency.
BNP aspirants are staging demonstrations, rallies and meetings as part their ‘one-point’ movement with the goal to remove AL from the power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government
According to locals, the BNP is now divided into many factions for lack of leadership in this constituency.
Political activities of Jatiya Party are also hardly seen in the constituency.
Noman Al Mahmud of Awami League is currently representing in the National Parliament from Chattogram-8 constituency.
The constituency encompasses Chittagong City Corporation wards 3 through 7, and all but one union parishad of Boalkhali Upazila: Sreepur Kharandwip.
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 constituency boundaries to reflect population changes revealed by the 2001 Bangladesh census.
The 2008 redistricting altered the boundaries of the constituency.
Ahead of the 2014 general election, the Election Commission renumbered the seat for Chittagong-16 (Sandwip) to Chattogram-3, bumping up by one the suffix of the former constituency of that name and higher numbered constituencies in the district.
Thus Chattogram -8 covers the area previously covered by Chattogram-7.
Previously Chattogram-8 encompassed Chattogram City Corporation wards 15 through 23 and 31 through 35.
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury of AL contested the first general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973 and became the Member of Parliament (MP).
BNP candidate Sultan Ahmed Chowdhury contested the general election held in 1979 and won the seat while Mohammad Ishaq of AL contested the general election held in 1986 and became the lawmaker.
Jatiya Party candidate Liaquat Ali contested the national poll held in 1988 and won the seat.
BNP candidate Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury contested the Jatiya Sangsad election in 1991 and won the seat.
AL candidate Nurul Islam ((known as Nurul Islam BSc) and former minister for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment contested the general election held in 2008 and became the lawmaker from the Chattogram-8 constituency.
AL-led grand alliance candidate and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Moin Uddin Khan Badal contested the two general elections held in 2014 and 2018 and won the seat.
But, the veteran politician Moinuddin Khan Badal passed away in November in 2019.
He was the executive president of JSD.
The veteran lawmaker, who was well-known for his courageous and thoughtful speech in parliament, was born in Satelee village in Boalkhali of Chattagram on February 21, 1952.
So, the Chattogram-8 constituency fell vacant following the death of AL lawmaker Moslem Uddin Ahmed.
Moslem Uddin Ahmad got AL ticket and contested the by-election held in January 2020 and won the seat.
But, he (Moslem Uddin Ahmad), a valiant freedom fighter also died in February this year.
Therefore, the Chattogram-8 constituency again fell vacant following the death of AL lawmaker Moslem Uddin Ahmed.
Later AL nominated Noman Al Mahmud for the by-polls to Chattogram-8 constituency.
The by-election to the Chattogram-8 seat was held on April 27, 2023.
AL candidate Noman Al Mahmud, also the Organising Secretary of Chattogram City unit of the AL won the Chattogram-8 by-polls.
He had also focused on developing the Boalkhali upazila and part of the port city.
Noman Al Mahmud, following the previous two MP of the constituency, also prioritised initiating the construction work of Kalurghat Bridge, the main route of transport for around 50 thousand people of Boalkhali upazila and people residing on the bank of river Karnaphuli on that side of the city.
Besides, he also had expressed his wish to build a memorial containing the declaration of independence at the historical Kalurghat Radio Station and building Sheikh Rasel Stadium at the present Chandgaon Bus Terminal.
Noman Al Mahmud took the oath of office in May.
Therefore, he has not got enough time to implement his electoral promises.
Yet, AL high command is likely to nominate him (Noman Al Mahmud) again to contest the upcoming general election, according to party insider.
Apart from Noman Al Mahmud, former Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor and General Secretary of Chattogram City unit of AL AJM Nasir and Abdus Salam, former Chairman of Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) will also seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Besides, Selina Khan wife of late Moin Uddin Khan Badal, Shirin Ahmed wife of late Moslem Uddin Ahmad and SM Abul Kalam, former Vice-President of Chattogram South district unit of AL and former diplomat also want to get party ticket to contest the next national poll.
Former AL MP Nurul Islam BSc, Mohammad Abdul Momin, a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League, SM Abu Toyeb, a business leader and Barrister Monowar Hossain will also seek party nomination.
But, everything will depend on party high command that who is going to party ticket, local leaders and workers told journalists.
Talking to reporters Abdus Salam said he got nomination twice in the general elections held in 2014 and 2018.
“But, as per Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s directive, I withdrew my candidature. I think my leader will also evaluate me this time,” he said.
On the other hand, if BNP participates in the next national poll, the party (BNP) may field a new face for contesting the election from Chattogram-8 constituency, party leaders said
As former Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan resigned from the BNP citing personal reasons, some BNP leaders are now active in the constituency to get party ticket.
Yet, he (M Morshed Khan) may join BNP again and seek party nomination to contest the next parliamentary election, according to party insiders.
Besides, BNP leader Abu Sufian and BGMEA leader Ershad Ullah will seek party nomination to contest the next general election.
Although Jamaat-e-Islami was disqualified from contesting elections, its high command asked the local leaders and workers to work together in order to strengthen the party’s organisational activities in the constituency, according to locals.
If the party is allowed to join polls, it will field candidate to contest the next general elections.
Campaign activities for AL candidates in the constituency are energetic but supporters of non-ruling party candidates, particularly the BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat was hardly seen electioneering.
There was an uneasy calm and many kept themselves carefully away from campaigning or even discussing the next general elections.
A cross section of locals said those who support the BNP or the Jamaat-e-Islami have either kept themselves away from campaigning or have started electioneering for the AL to “avert police trouble or harassment”, according to local people.
Though the two major political camps remain rigid on their stances over the contentious issue of polls-time administration, they are making preparations for the 12th parliamentary election, according locals.
This time AL and BNP will try hard to regain the constituency.
However, BNP is internally preparing for the election in the constituency.
BNP is a big political party and its leaders also want to take part in the polls, local BNP leaders and activists said.
Therefore, nomination seekers of AL and BNP have already started passing their hectic days through polls campaigning in the constituency
They have started showdown through meetings and mass contacts.
The nomination seekers have set up big banners and posters at the important points in the constituency, intersections of highways and road, and on boundary walls.
Containing the images of the candidates of various colourful posters have already been pasted across the constituency.
Candidates are also travelling different parts of the constituency as part of their hectic electioneering.
They are also using the photographs of their respective political parties’ chiefs in their posters.
Although BNP leaders are maintaining silence policy in the constituency, the political landscape of the constituency-8 is going to heat up soon as the nomination seekers of the next general elections have started kicking off their campaigns.
