Electioneering for the upcoming 7 January general election is gaining momentum in Khulna as the voting day approaches. With the major opposition BNP boycotting the polls, candidates nominated by the ruling Awami League, including some heavyweights, are set to face tough competition from independent candidates from their party in a significant number of the 36 constituencies across 10 districts in the division, according to stakeholders.

Among the 10 districts in Khulna division, Jashore and Khulna districts each comprise six parliamentary seats, while Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Satkhira, and Bagerhat each have four seats. Additionally, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Magura, and Narail districts consist of two seats.

A total of 226 candidates, including those nominated by various political parties and independents, are participating in the election race for the 12th national election in the division.

Out of the 12 heavyweight candidates vying for parliamentary seats with the Awami League’s “boat” symbol in the division, eight are expected to have a relatively easy journey, while four others may face fierce competition from independent candidates.

In Meherpur-1 (Sadar and Mujibnagar), Farhad Hossain, state minister for public administration, is expected to face tough competition from AL independent Abdul Mannan, a two-time former member of parliament from the constituency.

Senior leaders of the district Awami League, accusing Farhad of arbitrarily creating a division in the party, have united against him and are supporting Mannan this time, according to party insiders.

Asked about this, Farhad Hossain said that those who had opposed the

party earlier have taken a stand against the “boat” this time as well, but it will not affect the vote. He explained, “This is because, along with grassroots leaders and activists, all union parishad chairmen are with me. They are working for the boat.”

A similar situation is observed in Kushtia-2, where Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Huq Inu is facing competition from AL independent candidate Kamarul Arefin.

In Kushtia-3, Awami League Joint Secretary General Md Mahbubul Alam Hanif is in an uncomfortable situation as independent candidate Parvez Anwar Tonu is likely to give him a tough fight in the election.

In Jashore-5, State Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee, another heavyweight Awami League candidate, may encounter trouble due to an internal feud in the party. A significant number of local leaders have united against Swapan, and the local Hindu community, traditionally the biggest vote bank of Swapan, has also announced a stand against him.

On the other hand, independent candidate Md Yakub Ali has garnered public support, preparing for the election for the past five years.

In Magura-1, cricketer-cum-politician and AL candidate Shakib Al Hasan is expected to win comfortably, despite four other candidates competing in the seat.

Similarly, Biren Shikder has a high chance of winning in the Magura-2 seat with the “boat” symbol.

In Narail-2, cricketer-turned-politician and incumbent lawmaker Mashrafe Bin Mortuza is comfortably poised for re-election with the “boat” symbol in the absence of any strong competitor.

In Narail-1, AL candidate BM Kabirul Haque Mukti is likely to win easily.

AL candidates are expected to secure easy victories in all seats in Bagerhat, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Helal Uddin in Bagerhat-1, Sheikh Tanmoy (son of Sheikh Helal Uddin) in Bagerhat-2, and Deputy Environment Minister and Khulna city Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque’s wife Habibun Nahar in Bagerhat-3.

In Satkhira-3, AL candidate and former health minister AFM Ruhul Haque has no major competitor, despite candidates from the Jatiya Party, Zaker Party, and Trinamool BNP.

Additionally, Awami League candidates are expected to have a comfortable win in all electoral constituencies in Jhenaidah, Khulna, and Chuadanga districts.