Harinakundu (Jhenaidah) Correspondent: Naser Shahriar Zahid Mahul, the suspended vice-president of Jhenaidah Awami League, has launched online campaigning as an independent candidate for the Jhenaidah-2 (Sadar–Harinakundu) constituency. Mahul, who was declared elected in last year’s widely criticised “dummy election,” lost his MP position during the mass uprising. He and his brother, Jhenaidah municipal AL vice-president Kayum Shahriar Zahid Hizol, face long-standing allegations of attacks, intimidation, and filing cases against quota reform protesters and opposition activists.
Student groups and July Movement activists have announced they will obstruct Mahul if he tries to contest again. Tensions escalated after a mob attack on Mahul’s house on 13 November. Despite controversy, several district and upazila Awami League leaders have already begun mobilising in his favour.
AL insiders deny claims that Mahul was inactive in party activities, saying he regularly attended programmes and financially backed party cadres until the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Meanwhile, student organisations—including Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, Shibir, and Islami Chhatra Andolan—have warned that no former “dummy MPs” will be allowed to participate in upcoming elections, accusing Mahul of enabling violent attacks during the quota movement and shielding armed followers.
Mahul has also faced criminal complaints, including a land fraud case in Jashore and allegations of patronising local miscreants involved in brutal assaults, such as the 2023 hacking of a Jubo Dal leader in Paglakanai union.
Speaking to reporters, Mahul said every citizen has the democratic right to contest elections unless restricted by the state. He claimed he left Awami League in 2022 after internal attacks on his family and later won the 2024 election as an independent despite “continuous harassment.” He expressed hope for a participatory and peaceful election environment under the current administration.
