Pirojpur: The Awami League (AL)-backed candidates across two constituencies in Pirojpur have been facing challenges from independent contestants of Eagle symbol, who have stronghold in local politics, according to election observers.

In another constituency of Pirojpur-3, there is a candidate for Awami Legue. The ruling party is supporting incumbent lawmaker Rustum Ali Faraji, who is also contesting with Eagle symbol.

Pirojpur-1 constituency covers district headquarters, Nazirpur and Indurkani, which are better known for the vote bank of BNP-Jamaat alliance.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim is facing a tough situation with party’s Boat symbol as he is contesting against AL district unit president and former lawmaker AKMA Awal, who dominates the political scene in the southern district.

AKMA Awal has a strong position in the district headquarters, and Indurkani, who defeated Jamaat leader Delowar Hossain Sayeedi in the 2008 election, changed the political landscape in the area of majority conservative voters. He continued his success with the AL ticket in the 2014 election.

In 2018, AL made a significant change by nominating Dhaka-based lawyer Rezaul Karim, who maintains connections with central leaders as a legal practitioner and television personality. He passed the controversial 2018 election amid low voter turnout.

AL ally Anwar Hossain Manju of the Jatiya Party is not taking a risk to fight with his party symbol ‘Bicycle’ against his former assistant personal secretary Mahiuddin Maharaj, who is contesting with the ‘Eagle’ symbol.

Maharaj filed a complaint with the district returning officer on Wednesday, claiming that Anwar Hossain Manju threatened to bar activists and agents of the Eagle candidate in the national election to be held on 7 January.

Former Communications Minister Manju got the Boat symbol and contributed enough to bring the Awami League into power in 1996 by splitting the Jatiya Party to form a coalition government. Even after getting the boat symbol, Anwar Hossain Manju is facing a tough challenge to contest against his former aide.

Pirojpur-3 constituency consists of a single upazila in Mathbaria. In this constituency, AL-backed incumbent lawmaker Rustum Ali Faraji is contesting with Eagle symbol while another independent candidate Shamim Shanewaj is contesting with the bunch Banana symbol in the parliamentary election.

Mentioning that the government has given assurance of a fair election, Former President of Pirojpur district TIB Advocate Shahidul Khan told the Daily Sun that if the voters go to polling centres, the candidates of the ruling party will face tough competition against the independent candidates across three constituencies in Pirojpur.

Pirojpur Press Club Former President Mahmud Hossain said that there will be fierce competition in all three parliamentary seats of Pirojpur district.

"Especially in all three constituencies as independent candidates, Eagle symbol candidates have put pressure on the party candidates," Hossain told the Daily Sun.