11 new faces elected in Ctg, eight win on debut

In the recently concluded 13th parliamentary election, a total of 11 new faces have been elected as lawmakers in Chattogram, with eight candidates winning on their debut in a parliamentary election.
Among the 11 newly elected MPs, ten belong to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and one to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Across the 16 parliamentary constituencies of Chattogram city, north, and south, a total of 115 candidates contested the election. BNP fielded candidates in all 16 seats, while Jamaat stood in 15. 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish each contested one seat. There were four female candidates and ten independents. The total number of registered voters this time was 6,682,517.

First-time members of parliament
Those elected as MPs for the first time include BNP candidates Nurul Amin in Chattogram-1 (Mirsharai), Sarwar Alamgir in Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari), Aslam Chowdhury in Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda), Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin in Chattogram-5 (Hathazari), Hummam Quader Chowdhury in Chattogram-7 (Rangunia), Ershad Ullah in Chattogram-8 (Chandgaon Boalkhali), Abu Sufian in Chattogram-9 (Kotwali), Sayeed Al Noman in Chattogram-10 (Double Mooring-Halishahar), Mohammad Enamul Haque in Chattogram-12 (Patiya), and Jasim Uddin Ahmed in Chattogram-14 (Chandanish).
In addition, Mohammad Zahirul Islam of Jamaat was elected for the first time from Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali).
However, the Election Commission withheld the results of Sarwar Alamgir and Aslam Chowdhury of Fatikchhari and Hathazari following a court order.
The eight candidates who secured victory on their first attempt are Sarwar Alamgir, Aslam Chowdhury, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, Sayeed Al Noman, Mohammad Enamul Haque, Jasim Uddin Ahmed, and Mohammad Zahirul Islam.

Political heirs enter parliament
Three constituencies – Chattogram-5, 7, and 10 – saw the simultaneous rise of a new generation of leaders. All three BNP candidates secured more than 100,000 votes and were elected MPs for the first time. All are in their 40s and highly educated abroad.
Sayeed, son of the late veteran BNP leader and former minister and freedom fighter Abdullah Al Noman, won Chattogram-10 with 122,978 votes, defeating his nearest rival by nearly 45,000 votes. Speaking after his victory, he said:
“I have long been connected with the people of my constituency. They know and trust me. That trust helped me win even in my first election.”
Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, contesting for the first time, serves as Assistant Organising Secretary of BNP. The 43-year-old, son of BNP vice-chairman and former minister Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, secured a margin of nearly 100,000 votes. He said: “After many years, people exercised their voting rights in a festive mood. Voters elected me through a peaceful election. I am delighted and hope to contribute meaningfully in parliament.”
Hummam Quader Chowdhury won the Chattogram-7 seat with 101,045 votes, leading by around 60,000 votes. The 42-year-old is the son of former state minister and BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
However, BNP candidate Mishkatul Islam Chowdhury, son of former state minister for Environment and Forest Zafrul Islam Chowdhury, was defeated by a Jamaat candidate in Banshkhali constituency. 

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From grassroots to parliament
BNP’s Nurul Amin of Chattogram-1 (Mirsharai) rose from grassroots politics. He began his career as a union parishad member in 1998, later became chairman, and then upazila chairman. In this election, he secured victory with 128,799 votes against his nearest rival’s 84,538 votes. He said:
“The people of Mirsharai have taken me to this position from a UP member. My efforts will remain on to honour their trust.”
Two former upazila chairmen – Jasim Uddin Ahmed of BNP and Mohammad Zahirul Islam of Jamaat – also secured victory in Chandanish and Banshkhali constituencies respectively.

Three MPs from the same village
Three lawmakers – Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, and Sayeed Al Noman – have been elected from different constituencies, but all hail from the same village, Gahira in Raozan upazila. Gias Uddin and Hummam are uncle and nephew, while Sayeed Al Noman’s home is located about half a kilometre from their ancestral house. Gahira has long been known as a politically influential village. It was home to Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, former Speaker of the East Pakistan Parliament and Acting President of Pakistan, as well as several prominent political leaders across different eras. 
With three MPs emerging from the same village in a single election, residents say a festive mood now prevails across the area.