Aspirants start campaigns

The political landscape of Pabna constituency-4 is going to heat up soon as the nomination seekers of the next general elections have started kicking off their campaigns.

Awami League local leader Nuruzzaman Biswas is currently represented in the National Parliament.

Except Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), local leaders of different political parties including the ruling Awami League are lobbying party high command hectically to secure party nominations for the country’s upcoming general elections. 

Boosted by the Awami League’s success in the last parliamentary polls, they have already started informal campaigns for the next general elections.

But, BNP leaders are maintaining a silent policy in the constituency.  

Nomination seekers are using colourful posters, banners, billboards at different strategic points of the constituency in order to get their respective parties and locals’ attention.

Containing the image of the candidates various colourful posters have already been pasted across the constituency. Candidates are also travelling to different parts of the constituency as part of their hectic electioneering.

They are also using the photographs of their respective political party chiefs in their posters.

The constituency encompasses Atgharia and Ishwardi upazilas. The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (Rooppur NPP) site, country’s first such plant is located in this constituency.

It is located in the village of Rooppur, adjoining Paskey union of Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna District.

Therefore, this constituency is very important to all political parties.   

When this correspondent visited the important spots like Railway gate, Post Office and Alhaj intersection, Bazar No 1 gate, upazila gate, Dashuria traffic point, Rooppur intersection, he saw colourful posters, banners and billboards covering the area.

Candidates are greeting the locals across the constituency on the occasion of the different religious and social festivals.

Apart from these, the nomination seekers are also taking part in discussions, different socio-cultural programmes and meetings.

They are promising to build a ‘modern, dynamic and healthy’ constituency as the Rooppur NPP site is located here.

They are also attaching priority not only to build the constituency for better living but also to work for developing the locals’ lifestyle there.

They are also promising that they will take effective steps to develop underprivileged areas.

However, as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) refuses to join any election under the Awami League government, questions have arisen over whom BNP supporters will vote for if they choose to participate in the upcoming national polls.

Therefore, no significant campaign activities are seen in the BNP camp. 

As the general elections approach, the political landscape of Pabna-4 continues to change.

The incumbent lawmaker Nuruzzaman Biswas is very active in the field. 

He has unofficially launched a campaign as he believes his party ruling Awami League will again nominate him from this important constituency.

And, he will contest the next general election with Awami League’s election symbol “boat” and win the polls.

Rezaul Rahim Lal, president of Pabna district unit of Awami League wants to contest the next general election from the Pabna constituency-4 as he is confident that the party will pick him up this time. 

 Abul Kalam Azad, general secretary of Ishwardi upazila unit of Awami League and former municipality mayor who was also the aspirant of party nomination in the last general election, will seek to contest the upcoming polls.

He is also carrying out a campaign in different places of the constituency to get his party and local attention.

Apart from them, Galibur Rahman, organising secretary of Pabna district unit of Awami League and son of late land minister, seems fond of the limelight as he wants to seek party nomination to contest the next general elections.

Shakibur Rahman Sharif, member of Pabna district unit of Awami League and another son of late land minister, is also greeting the people of Atgharia and Ishwardi upazilas.

Rabiul Alam Bodu, former leader of Rajshahi University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League and advisory member of Pabna district unit of Awami League, who was an aspirant for party nomination in the last general elections, will also seek party ticket to contest the polls.

Besides, Mohammad Rashidullah, a leader of Ishwardi upazila of Awami League unit, Punjab Ali Biswas, member of advisory committee of Pabna district unit of Awami League and Rafiqul Islam Liton, former central leader of Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League will seek party nomination from this constituency.

Jalal Uddin Tuhin and Shahed Imran treasurer and publicity and publication affairs secretary of central committee of Bangabandhu Parishad respectively, Syed Ali Zinnah, labour affairs secretary of Pabna district Awami League, Abdul Alim, a central leader of Matsyajibi League, Shahidul Islam Raton and mayor of Atgharia municipality and an Awami League leader want party nomination.

On the other hand, BNP is saying that it will not take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections, while its leaders are getting prepared for the polls.

Habibur Rahman Habib, advisor of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and convener of Pabna district unit of BNP, who contested the last by-election, is active in the field. 

He believes if BNP joins polls, he will get the party ticket as what he says “there is no alternative to him”

Besides, Sirajul Islam Sardar, former lawmaker also wants to contest elections. 

Talking to journalists Habibur Rahman said BNP has not taken any final decision yet whether the party will join the next polls.

“But, I will strictly follow the directives of Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. If the party gives me a nomination, I will contest the next general elections,” he said.

If the Jamaat-e-Islami is allowed to contest the country’s general elections, Pabna District Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Prof Abu Taleb Mandal is likely to get a party nomination.

He is conducting campaigns and travelling throughout the constituency.