The ruling party Awami League (AL) candidates in the Rajshahi division are ahead of contenders of other political parties to win in the upcoming general election slated to be held on 7 January with possibilities of tough contest between AL candidates and independents only in a few constituencies.

According to the Election Commission, there are 39 parliamentary seats in eight districts – seven in Bogura, six each in Naogaon, Rajshahi and Sirajganj, five in Pabna, four in Natore, three in Chapainawabganj and two in Joypurhat.

AL candidates are contesting in 37 constituencies as it has withdrawn candidates from Bogura-2 and Bogura-3 constituencies as part of seat sharing with the main opposition in parliament Jatiya Party (JaPa).

Shariful Islam Jinnah is contesting in Bogura-2 (Shibganj) and Md Nurul Islam Talukder in Bogura-3 (Adamdighi-Dupchanchia) constituency as JaPa candidates.Jinnah’s opponent is independent former BNP leader Beauty Begum while Nurul’s rival is independent candidate AL leader Ajoy Kumar Sarker.

In Bogura-4 (Kahalu-Nandigram), independent Dr Ziaul Haque Mollah is battling against Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) candidate Rezaul Karim Tansen. The election in the constituency has become interesting with the participation of Bangladesh CongressAsharful Hossain Alam (Hero Alam).

In Bogura-1 (Sariakandi-Sonatola), AL candidate Shahdara Mannan is facing independents Shahzadi Alam Lipi and Md Shokrana.

Candidates of other opposition parties like the Trinamool BNP, the Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM), the JSD-Inu, the National People’s Party (NPP), the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh and independents are also in the election race in the Rajshahi division.

Of the total 39 constituencies in the division of the northern region, AL candidates are ahead of other candidates in over 20 seats but may go through hard contests in only around five constituencies, sources said.

Simultaneously, either a biangular or triangular contest is expected in some of the constituencies based on their acceptance by the voters in general.

In Pabna-1 (Santhia-Bera), Deputy Speaker AL candidate Shamsul Haque Tuku is likely to face a tough contest against former state minister independent candidate Prof Abu Sayeed while AL’s Mokbul Hossain is to face strong competition against independent candidate Abdul Hamid Master in Pabna-3 (Chatmohar-Bhangura-Faridpur).

In Rajshahi-1 (Godagari-Tanore), AL’sOmorFaruque Chowdhury is the opponent of independents Golam Rabbani and SharminAkter Nipa (actress Mahia Mahi). In Rajshahi-2 (City) constituency, 14-party alliance candidate Fazley Hossain Badsha is in the battle against independent Prof Shafiqur Rahman Badsha.

In Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara), AL’sAbulKalam Azad is to face a strong contest against independent engineer Enamul Haque Enam. There may be a tough contest between AL candidate State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and independent Rahenul Haque in Rajshahi-6 (Bagha-Charghat).

A triangular contest may take place in Chapainawabganj-1 (Shibganj) among AL candidate Dr Shamil Ahmed Shimul, independent Syed Nazrul and former lawmaker Golam Rabbani.

In Chapainawabganj-2 (Gomostapur-Nachole-Volahat), the contest will take place between AL candidate Ziaur Rahman and independent Md Golam MostofaBiswash.

AL candidate Shahidul Islam Bakul is to face a hard contest against independent AbulKalam Azad in Natore-1. In Natore-2 (Naldanga), AL candidate Shafiqul Islam Shimul is battling against independent former state minister Ahad Ali Sarker.

In Natore-3, AL candidate Zunaid Ahmed Palak is contesting against independent Shafiqul Islam. IN Natore-4, another AL candidate Dr Siddiqur Rahman is contesting against strong independent Asif Abdullah Bin Quddus.

AL candidate Sourendra Nath Chakravarty is likely to face a tough contest against independent candidate Salim Uddin Tarafder in Naogaon-3 (Mohadevpur-Badalgachhi) while AL candidate Nizam Uddin Jalil John is fighting against independent candidate Dewan Shekar Ahmed Shisan in Naogaon-5.

In the Sirajganj-5 constituency, there may be a tough contest between AL candidate Abdul MominMondal and independent candidate Abdul Latif Biswash. In Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur) too, a hard contest can be expected between AL candidate Chayon Islam and independent candidate Halimul Haque Miru.

In Joypurhat-1, the election race will be competitive between AL candidate Shamsul Alam Dudu and independent Abdul Aziz Mollah.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Akhinur Islam Remon, a local journalist in Pabna, said AL candidates are ahead of other candidates even though strong contests may take place in several constituencies in the division.

“In Pabna, it seems a strong contest is to take place between AL candidates and others in Pabna-3 and Pabna-1 constituencies but ruling party candidates may have the last laugh. However, independent candidates may defeat JaPa candidates in Bogura-2 and Bogura-3,” he added.