Ruling Awami League candidates will face a tough contest in five out of 20 constituencies of Dhaka district, including the capital, and may come out victorious easily in the remaining ones in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The seats where there will be strong competition are Dhaka-1, Dhaka-4, Dhaka-5, Dhaka-14 and Dhaka-19.

Visiting the 20 seats of Dhaka, it was seen that the AL independent candidates will be the main competitors of the party contestants in three of these seats except Dhaka-1 and Dhaka-4. In the latter two seats, Jatiya Party runners will fight against the AL candidates.

Although BNP boycotted the polls slated for 7 January, the participation of strong independent candidates -- most belonging to the ruling party -- has made the election race competitive.

As Awami League allowed party leaders to run independently for strategic reasons, many are contesting the polls as independent candidates, which has made the polls festive.

However, the number of strong AL independent candidates in Dhaka’s constituencies is less compared to other districts.

During a field visit, this correspondent has found that vigorous electioneering was noticeable in Dhaka-1, Dhaka-4, Dhaka-5, Dhaka-14, Dhaka-18 and Dhaka-19.

Of them, independents are very likely to secure victory in Dhaka-5 and Dhaka-18 constituencies as they have popularity among voters.

In Dhaka-1 constituency (Dohar-Nawabganj), incumbent AL MP Salman F Rahman will see a tough contest with Jatiya Party contender and party’s Presidium member Salma Islam, also a former MP.

Salman F Rahman is the vice-chairman of Beximco Group while Salma Islam is the chairman of Jamuna Group.

Voters are expecting a fierce competition between the two candidates, both of who are billionaires and they did many development works for the area.

Dhaka-4 (Shyampur-Kadamtali) constituency is likely to see a triangular contest where former MP and AL central leader Sanjida Khanam is contesting as the ruling party candidate while Syed Abu Hossain Babla as Jatiya Party runner and Awlad Hossain, former assistant personal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is there as an independent candidate. Babla won the seat for the last two times while Awlad has popularity among locals.

In Dhaka-5 constituency, Jatrabari thana AL General Secretary Harunur Rashid Munna is vying as AL candidate while Dhaka South city Swechchhasebak League President Md Kamrul Hasan Ripon is there as an independent contestant. A huge number of ruling party leaders, activists and young voters are supporting Ripon, said sources.

Besides, Demra thana AL General Secretary Moshiur Rahman Mollah Sajal, also son of former lawmaker from this constituency Habibur Rahman Mollah, is contesting the polls as an independent candidate.

There will be a triangular contest in the constituency, voters said.

 “I grew up in this area. I’ve observed the problems and possibilities of the area very closely. I’ve always stood by the people of this area. I was here even during the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope people will elect me,” Ripon told the Daily Sun.

A tough competition is also expected in Dhaka-14 constituency where AL candidate Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, general secretary of Jubo League, will be at loggerheads with independent candidate Sabina Akter Tuhin, former president of Dhaka North city Jubo Mahila League.

While talking to the Daily Sun, Tuhin said, “As a candidate, my electoral symbol is ‘Truck’. But my main identity is that I’m a tested soldier of Sheikh Hasina who suffered torture and oppression in different times.”

Meanwhile, electioneering has been festive in Dhaka-19 constituency. State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman is the AL contestant there. Independent candidate Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung alias Murad Jung, also a former lawmaker from this constituency, will put up a tough battle in the seat.

There is another independent candidate – Ashulia thana AL General Secretary Saiful Islam. However, he could not create any hype in the area, locals said.

Election campaign is also going on in a festive mood in Dhaka-18 constituency where there is no AL candidate as part of electoral compromise with Jatiya Party.

Jatiya Party Presidium member Sherifa Quader, also party Chairman GM Quader’s wife, is contesting the polls with ‘Plough’ symbol. Her main competitor will be Khasru Chowdhury, industry and commerce affairs secretary of Dhaka North city AL, who is contesting the polls as an independent runner, said voters.

Sources said Khasru Chowdhury is in a strong position in the seat and he might be elected defeating Sherifa Quader.

AL candidates in other Dhaka seats -- M Qamrul Islam in Dhaka-2, Nasrul Hamid in Dhaka-3, Sayeed Khokon in Dhaka-6, Mohammad Solaiman Salim in Dhaka-7, AFM Bahauddin Nasim in Dhaka-8, Saber Hossain Chowdhury in Dhaka-9, Ferdous Ahmed in Dhaka-10, Mohammad Wakil Uddin in Dhaka-11, Asaduzzaman Khan in Dhaka-12, Jahangir Kabir Nanak in Dhaka-13, Kamal Ahmed Mojumder in Dhaka-15, M Elias Uddin Mollah in Dhaka-16, Mohammad Ali Arafat in Dhaka-17 and Benzir Ahmed in Dhaka-20 – stay relaxed as there are no strong rivals.

While talking to the Daily Sun AL Presidium member AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said, “Awami League took the ‘party independent’ strategy to make the polls participatory and festive. And the strategy has been successful so far.”

About party’s independent candidates, AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said, “As part of the election process, numerous candidates of our party have stood as independent candidates. Contesting any election as independent candidates is constitutionally recognised. We want the election to be held amid enthusiasm. We want a competitive and festive election.”