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The ruling Awami League (AL), in a strategic move ahead of the 12th parliamentary elections scheduled for January 7, has presented a list of candidates that includes fresh faces from various backgrounds.
The party, led by General Secretary Obaidul Quader, officially disclosed its nominated candidates on Sunday evening during a press conference held at the central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital city.
Breaking from convention, the AL has opted for a mix of bureaucrats, cricketers, and showbiz stars, leading to the exclusion of several incumbent lawmakers – numbering 72.
Obaidul Quader, in his announcement, revealed that the party has nominated candidates for 298 seats, with the remaining candidates for Kushtia-2 and Narayanganj-5 constituencies set to be unveiled later.
Notably, the lineup includes four former bureaucrats, indicating a diverse array of experiences among the Awami League's new faces. Among these are, Abdul Kamal Azad, former Chief Secretary, who secured the party's nomination for Jamalpur-5.
Sourendra Nath Chakraborty, a former secretary, emerged as the nominee for the Naogaon-3 constituency, while the former Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Mohammad Sadiq, will contest from Sunamganj-4.
In Dhaka, the political landscape is set for change, as the Awami League introduces new candidates for nine out of the 20 constituencies in the upcoming elections. These candidates include Sanjida Khanam (Dhaka-4), Harunur Rashid Munna (Dhaka-5), Sayeed Khokon (Dhaka-6), Solaiman Salim (Dhaka-7), AFM Bahauddin Nasim (Dhaka-8), Ferdous Ahmed (Dhaka-10), Md. Wakil Uddin (Dhaka-11), Jahangir Kabir Nanak (Dhaka-13), and Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil (Dhaka-14).
In a surprising move, cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been nominated for the boat symbol in Magura-1, while actor Ferdous Ahmed is set to contest from Dhaka-10, adding a touch of glamour and sportsmanship to the Awami League's electoral lineup.
Furthermore, the Awami League has strategically fielded candidates in key constituencies, such as former senior secretary Sajjadul Hasan in Netrokona-4, former protocol officer Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim in Feni-1, and cricketer Shakib Al Hasan in Magura-1.
In a departure from convention, the Awami League has chosen to invest in fresh faces, excluding several current members of parliament. Notable among these new entrants are Eng.
Abdus Sabur (Cumilla-1), Mahbub Rahman Ruhel (Chattogram-1), M. A. Salam (Chattogram-5), S. M. Al Mamun (Chattogram-4), Shammim Hossain (Faridpur-3), Rasheq Rahman (Rangpur-5), Ronjit Sarkar (Sunamganj-1), Abdullah Al Mahmud Chowdhury (Sunamganj-2), Shafiul Islam Chowdhury Nadel (Moulvibazar-2), and Khadijatul Anwar (Chittagong-2), Galibur Rahman Sharif (Pabna-4) and AZM Shafiuddin Shamim.
Out of five seats in Netrokona, two incumbent lawmakers have not received the nomination. The new candidates for Netrokona-1 and Netrokona-5, local AL leaders are Moshtaq Ahmed Ruhi and AL organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain respectively.
Meanwhile, three current members of the cabinet from the Awami League have not been nominated for the upcoming twelfth national parliamentary elections. All three of them hold the position of ministers, and they are the Culture Minister KM Khaled, Labour Minister Begum Monnujan Sufian, and Primary and Mass Education Minister Zakir Hossain.
In the constituency of Mymensingh-5 (Muktagaacha), Abdul Hye Akand has been nominated, replacing KM Khaled. Abdul Hai Akanda is the General Secretary of the Awami League in
Muktagaacha Upazila, currently serving as the Chairman of the Upazila Parishad.
For Khulna-3 constituency, S. M. Kamal Hossain has been nominated, replacing Monnujan Sufian. S. M. Kamal Hossain is the organizing secretary of the Awami League.
In the constituency of Mymensingh-3, (Gauripur), Advocate Nilufer Anjum Popi, the wife of former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Mahbubul Haque Shakil, has secured the nomination from the Awami League.
In Kurigram-4 constituency, Biplob Hasan has been nominated, replacing Zakir Hossain. Biplob is a former central leader of Chhatra League.
Apart from the Prime Minister, the Cabinet currently consists of 25 ministers, 19 state ministers, and 3 deputy ministers. Among them, three are technocrats (not Members of Parliament).
After the release of the Awami League's nomination list, it is observed that, except for the three cabinet members, all other members of the cabinet have received nominations.
Meanwhile, as many as 72 ruling party lawmakers failed to get Awami League’s tickets to contest the 12th parliamentary election slated for January 7 next.
The lawmakers include Md. Mazaharul Hoque Prodhan (Panchagarh-1), Alhaj Md. Dabirul Islam (Thakurgaon-2), H.N. Ashequr Rahman (Rangpur-5), MA Matin (Kurigram-3), Md. Zakir Hossain (Kurigram-4), Md. Monowar Hossain Chowdhury (Gaibandha-4), Md. Habibar Rahman (Bogura-5), Mohammad Salim Uddin Tarafdar (Naogaon-3), Md. Emad Uddin Pk (Naogaon-4), Md. Ayeen Uddin (Rajshahi-3), Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), Md. Monsur Rahaman (Rajshahi-5), Md. Habibe Millat (Sirajganj-2), Merina Jahan (Sirajganj-6), Md.
Nuruzzaman Biswas (Pabna-4), Mohammad Shahiduzzaman (Meherpur-2), Md. Shafiqul Azam Khan (Jhenaidah-3), Md. Nasir Uddin (Jashore-2), Ranajit Kumar Roy (Jashore-4), Md.
Shifuzzaman (Magura-1), Md. Amirul Alam Milon (Bagerhat-4), Panchanan Biswas (Khulna-1), Begum Monnuzan Sufian (Khulna-3), Md. Akhteruzzaman (Khulna-6), Mir Mushtaque Ahmed Robi (Satkhira-2), S.M. Jaglul Hayder (Satkhira-4), Showkat Hasanur Rahman (Rimon) (Barguna-2) Md. Shah E Alam (Barishal-2), Pankaj Nath (Barishal-4), Ataur Rahman Khan (Tangail-3), Mohammad Hasan Imam Khan (Tangail-4), Md. Sanowar Hossain (Tangail-5), Abul Kalam Azad (Jamalpur-1), Md. Murad Hasan (Jamalpur-4), Md. Mozaffar Hossain (Jamalpur-5), A.K.M. Fazlul Haque (Sherpur-3), Nazim Uddin Ahmed (Mymensingh-3), K.M Khalid (Mymensingh-5), Anwarul Abedin Khan (Mymensingh-9), Manu Majumdar (Netrakona-1) and Waresat Hussain Belal (Netrakona-5).
The rest are Nur Mohammad (Kishoreganj-2), A.M Naimur Rahman (Manikganj-1), Md. Kazi Monirul Islam (Dhaka-5), Haji Md. Salim (Dhaka-7), Md. Shafiul Islam (Dhaka-10), A.K.M Rahmatullah (Dhaka-11) Md. Sadek Khan (Dhaka-13), Aga Khan Mintu (Dhaka-14), Mohammed Ikbal Hossain (Gazipur-3), Zahirul Haque Bhuiyan Mohan (Narsingdi-3), Manjur Hossain (Faridpur-1), Khandker Mosharraf Hossain (Faridpur-3), Mouazzam Hossain Ratan (Sunamganj-1), Jaya Sen Gupta (Sunamganj-2), Hafiz Ahmed Majumder (Sylhet-5), Nesar Ahmed (Moulvibazar-3), Gazi Mohammad Shahnawaz (Habiganj-1), Md. Abdul Majid Khan (Habiganj-2), Mohammad Ebadul Karim (Brahmanbaria-5), Mohammad Shubid Ali Bhuiyan (Cumilla-1), Nasimul Alam Chowdhury (Cumilla-8), Dr. Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir (Chandpur-1), Md Nurul Amin (Chandpur-2), Ayesha Ferdaus (Noakhali-6), Eng. Mosharraf Hossain (Chattogram-1), Didarul Alam (Chattogram-4), Shamsul Hoque Chowdhury (Chattogram-12) and Zafar Alam (Cox’s Bazar-1).
However, at least two MPs didn’t seek the party’s nomination to leave the field for their sons.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names of AL candidates for 298 constituencies out of 300 on Sunday afternoon. The ruling party didn’t declare its contender yet for Kushtia-2 and Narayanganj-5.
In the outgoing 11th parliament, there are 262 lawmakers from AL out of 300 directly elected MPs, while 23 from Jatiya Party, three each from Bangladesh Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasad, 2 each from Gonoforum and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, one each from Jatiya Party-JP, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and three independent MPs.
Messenger/Disha
