Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman has been representing the Awami League in the National Parliament from Dhaka-1 constituency.
The constituency encompasses Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas.
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 added new seats to the Dhaka metropolitan area, increasing the number of constituencies in the capital from 8 to 15 and reducing the extent of the constituency.
The incumbent Awami League (AL) lawmaker Salman F Rahman will seek the party ticket to contest the next general election again.
On the other hand, Dhaka district unit Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) President Khondokar Abu Ashfaque will seek party nomination to contest the next general election if BNP joins the polls.
Apart from them, Salma Islam of Jatiya Party, will also seek a party ticket to contest the next parliamentary poll from Dhaka-1 constituency.
Salman is a top businessman owning Beximco Group while Salma is the wife of another top businessman late Nurul Islam Babul of Jamuna Group.
The government has carried out huge development activities for the people living in Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of the constituency, local politicians and analysts said.
No other government did such development in this area in the past.
Besides, the government has planned to build a high-tech park at a cost of Taka 130 crore in Nawabganj, on the outskirts of the capital.
A plan has been taken to build a high-tech park at a cost of Taka 130 crore and Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center at a cost of Taka 78 crore in Nawabganj of Dhaka district.
Talking to reporters, Doharupazila AL unit President and Doharupazila Chairman Mohammad Alamgir said there is no alternative to Salman F Rahman here.
“The party high command has already unofficially nominated him (Salman F Rahman) to contest the next general election,” he said.
He said Dhaka-1 constituency is witnessing tremendous development as democracy has been established under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
With sincere and relentless efforts by the incumbent lawmaker Salman F Rahman, the Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas have changed because of the implementation of massive development projects.
“Huge development is visible in all sectors, including agriculture, education, health and infrastructure, in the constituency in the last 14 years and eight months,” Mohammad Alamgir said.
Replying to a query, he said Salman F Rahman has given full-fledged committees at union and upazila levels.
“Besides, under the leadership of Salman F Rahman, we leaders and workers of our constituency are united. And we are ready to contest the next poll. We believe Salman F Rahman will again win the election as people love him,” Mohammad Alamgir added.
On the other hand, there is no alternative to Khondokar Abu Ashfaque to contest the next general election from Dhaka-1 constituency.
Dhaka district unit BNP President Khondokar Abu Ashfaque said the party is preparing to oust the AL government, and not to join the national election under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“BNP is not getting ready for an election under Sheikh Hasina. Rather, we are preparing to ensure the fall of this government,” he said.
However, he said if BNP joins the next general election, he is confident that he will get a party ticket again to contest the next general election.
“The people of the country want a change in the government from the bottom of their hearts as they have got fed- up with its misrule,” he said.
Local leaders of Jatiya Party said there is no alternative to Salma Islam in Dhaka-1 constituency.
Nawabganj upazila unit Jatiya Party President Mohammad Jewell said the party will nominate Salma Islam to contest the next general election.
“Our party (Jatiya Party) is prepared to participate in the next general election. We have already formed a full-fledged committee at all unions and two upazilas. It is the stronghold of Jatiya Party. We believe Salma Islam will get a party ticket to contest the next general election. And she will regain the seat,” he added.