The nomination seekers in Chattogram-11 constituency have stepped up campaigns in a bid to convince their party high-ups for party tickets, even though the general election is still four months away.
M Abdul Latif of Awami League(AL) has been representing in the National Parliament since 2014 from the Chattogram-11 constituency.
The constituency encompasses Chittagong City Corporation wards 27 through 30 and 36 through 41.
The constituency was created for the first general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973.
Campaign activities for AL candidates in the constituency are energetic but supporters of non-ruling party candidates, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) 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 to reports reached in capital Dhaka.
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 Sandwip Upazila from Chattogram-16 to Chittagong-3, bumping up by one the suffix of the former constituency of that name and the higher numbered constituencies in the district.
Thus Chattogram-11 covers the area previously covered by Chattogram-10.
Previously Chattogram-11encompassed all but five union parishads of Patiya Upazila: Bara Uthan, Char Lakshya, Char Patharghata, Juldha, and Sikalbaha.
Nurul Islam Chowdhuryof AL contested the first general elections in newly independent Bangladesh, held in 1973 and became the Member of Parliament (MP).
The constituency is known as a stronghold of BNP-Jamaat.
BNP candidate Nazrul Islam contested the general election held in 1979 and won the seat while Jatiya Party candidate Chowdhury Harunur Rashid contested the general election held in 1986 and became the lawmaker from the constituency.
Jatiya Party candidate Sirajul Islam Chowdhury contested the national poll held in 1988 and became the MP.
BNP candidate Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury contested the national parliamentary election held in 1991 and won the seat.
Besides, he (Amir Khasru) was also elected to parliament from Chattogram-11 constituency as a BNP candidate in 1996 and 2001.
AL candidate Shamsul Haq Chowdhury contested the general election held in 2008 and became lawmaker from this constituency.
M Abdul Latif was elected to parliament from Chattogram-11 constituencies as an AL candidate in 2014 and 2018.
Different Key Point Installations (KPIs)-- Chittagong Port, the main seaport of Bangladesh, Eastern Refinery Limited, the sole state-owned oil refinery in the country, Shah Amanat International Airport, Custom House and the largest Export Processing Zone are situated in this constituency.
Therefore, this constituency is very important to all political parties.
The incumbent lawmaker M Abdul Latif will seek party nomination again to contest the next general election.
Besides, Khorshed Alam and Altaf Hossain Chowdhury Vice-Presidents of Chattogram city unit of AL respectively also want to party nomination contest the next general election.
Talking to journalists the incumbent MP M Abdul Latif claimed he has been working hard to serve the people of the constituency.
“I’m confident that party high command will nominate me like in the past to contest from this constituency. And, I’m sure I shall win the next general election if I contest the poll as Awami League candidate,” Abdul Latif said.
Khorshed Alam said he has been working for the party (AL) for long.
“I think the party high command will evaluate me and give me a chance to contest the next general election. I’m sure if I get party ticket and contest the poll, I will win the seat Inshallah,” he added.
Altaf Hossain Chowdhury said he had collected nomination form to get party ticket in 2018 general election.
“So, I will also seek party nomination this year,”
On the other hand, BNP standing committee member and former minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is likely to get party nomination to contest the next general election if BNP joins poll.
Besides, the local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami are unsure whether their party will be allowed to contest the national polls.
But, the Jamaat’s recent demonstration in the capital Dhaka, Chattogram, and other places of the country geared up its organisational activities.
Therefore, Jamaat will field its candidate if the party is allowed to join poll.
Meanwhile, many areas of Chattogram-11 constituency are replete with posters, billboards and banners of nomination seekers of AL, BNP and other parties.
The aspiring candidates vying for nominations and their supporters have hit the campaign trail by conducting mass contact and distributing leaflets to manifest their popularity alongside keeping in close touch with their party high-ups to ensure their nomination.
They have also become active in social and organisational activities.
As the battle to get party ticket among their probable candidates is getting fierce, the top district leaders of AL and BNP have also intensified their efforts to contain intra-party conflicts and strengthen their parties’ organisational capacity.
They are holding views-exchange meetings, discussions and various programmes with grassroots leaders and activists to make them united and motivated for working for the candidates who will bag their respective party tickets.
