The Awami League-nominated candidates in the upcoming polls in Barishal division are expecting an easy victory as they do not have strong opponents in most constituencies.  

However, the candidates of the Awami League allies, including the Jatiya Party (Manju faction) and Workers Party, may face a tough battle against independents in some seats.  

The southern division does not have a lot of popular independents, while those who were in the race have either withdrawn their candidacies in line with party instructions or became ineligible after losing the legal battle to regain their candidatures.  

According to the Election Commission, there are 21 constituencies in six districts under the division. Of these, six are in Barishal, four in Bhola, four in Patuakhali, two in Jhalakathi, three in Pirojpur, and two in Barguna.

Elections in nine constituencies may be competitive as there are strong independents against the candidates nominated by the ruling party and its allies. These are Patuakhali-4, Barguna-1, Barishal-6, Pirojpur-1, Patuakhli-3, Barishal-2, Barishal-3, Pirojpur-2, and Pirojpur-3.

Tofail Ahmed of Bhola-1, Amir Hossain Amu of Jhalakathi-2, Shahjahan Omar of Jhalakathi-1, Zahid Faruk of Barishal-5, Abul Hasnat Abdullah of Barishal-1, and ASM Feroz of Patukhali-2 are among the Awami League-nominated heavyweight candidates who have no strong opponents. Jatiya Party’s ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader in Patuakhlai-1 does not have any strong competitor either.  

Moreover, Awami League candidate Ali Azam of Bhola-2, Nurunnabi Chowdhury of Bhola-3, and Abdullah Al Islam Jacob of Bhola-4 may win easily.

Uphill battle for AL allies’ candidates

The candidates of the Awami League allies may face strong competition in four constituencies. In Barishal-2, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon may face a tough battle against independent candidates Monirul Islam Moni, who is a three-time lawmaker and an Awami League leader, and AK Faiyazul Huq, grandson of Sher-E-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq. In Patuakhali-1, Jatiya Party’s Ruhul Amin may face a tough battle against Bangladesh Congress candidate Md Nasir Uddin Talukder as the local Awami League unit supports the latter.

However, Patuakhali district Awami League Secretary Abdul Manan said the party’s grassroots are not supporting Nasir. “Ruhul is an Awami League alliance candidate. We cannot support anyone else.”  

Party insiders said Awami League Organising Secretary Afzal Hossain, also the niece of Ruhul, is supporting Nasir. Afzal and Ruhul recently got involved in a heated debate over this. Local Awami League leaders criticised Ruhul for using the Awami League president’s photo in his campaign posters. Ruhul said, “I have received co-operation from the Awami League grassroots. Some leaders are opposing me, but they are not showing it publicly.”  

Chairman of Jatiya Party (Manju faction) Anwar Hossain Manju is an Awami League alliance candidate and has to face independent aspirant and ruling party leader Mohiuddin Maharaj, who is backed by the party’s grassroots.

Some AL candidates may face tough battle

In Patuakhali-4, Awami League candidate Muhibullah Muhib will face independent candidate and former state minister for water resources Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukdar, who served as an Awami League lawmaker from 2001 to 2018. Mahbubur on 3 January told the Daily Sun he was getting a huge response from local Awami League members.

He said he hoped there would be a model election this time and he would win. “To date, neither the police nor the local administration has created any obstacle during my campaigns.”  In Barguna-1, incumbent lawmaker and Awami League candidate Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu will compete with Awami League leader Golam Sarwar Tuku. Some local leaders and public representatives in Barguna Sadar, Amtali, and Taltali upazilas are supporting Tuku, who is contesting as an independent. Patuakhali-3 Awami League candidate SM Shahjada Saju may also face a tough battle as some local Awami League leaders, such as the incumbent Galachipa municipality mayor and the upazila vice-chairman, support independent candidate Abul Hossain, who is the Border Guard Bangladesh’s former director general.