Election campaigns gain momentum in Sunamganj-4

Sunamganj-4 constituency, comprising Sunamganj Sadar and Bishwambarpur upazilas, is widely regarded as the political heart of the district where voters are reportedly weighing their choices carefully, focusing on candidates’ credibility, integrity, and commitment to local development.

As the date of the National Election draws nearer, campaign activities have intensified across all five constituencies of Sunamganj district.

In previous elections, the constituency alternated between the Jatiya Party and the Awami League. This time, the contest has taken a new shape, with the Awami League not fielding any candidate. As a result, political analysts anticipated a three-way race among the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and an independent candidate.

The main contenders include Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-nominated candidate Advocate Nurul Islam Nurul (Sheaf of Paddy), independent candidate Dewan Zainul Zakerin, also a member of the BNP district convening committee and a former vice-president, contesting with the Motorcycle symbol, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami nominee Md Shams Uddin (Scales), Jatiya Party candidate Md Nazmul Huda Himel (Plough), and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Shahidul Islam (Fan).

Voters and local observers said BNP, Jamaat and the independent candidate each command a substantial vote base, making the race highly competitive. With the Awami League absent from the contest, the votes of its supporters are expected to play a decisive role.

Election records showed that BNP’s Fazlul Haque Asfia won the seat in 2001, followed by Jatiya Party’s Momtaz Iqbal in 2008, Awami League’s Matiur Rahman in 2010, and Jatiya Party’s Pir Fazlur Rahman Misbah in 2018. Dr Mohammad Sadiq was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2024 national election. The constituency currently has 363,936 registered voters.

Voters said they intend to support candidates they consider honest, capable, and committed to long-term development. Many also expressed frustrations with past representatives who, they alleged, failed to remain engaged with constituents after being elected.

They further demanded strict monitoring to ensure a free, fair, impartial, and orderly election, urging the Election Commission and its officials to act without bias.

BNP candidate Advocate Nurul Islam Nurul said voters were eagerly waiting to cast their ballots. “The tide of the Sheaf of Paddy is rising. We are hopeful of a decisive victory not only in Sunamganj-4 but in all five seats of the district,” he said.

Meanwhile, Independent candidate Dewan Zainul Zakerin said his long-standing engagement with grassroots people would work in his favour. “I have been walking alongside common people for a long time. If elected, I will work closely with them to accelerate development,” he added.

Jatiya Party candidate Nazmul Huda Himel said he was confident of victory. “If elected, I will ensure inclusive development so that deprived communities receive their rightful share, particularly in road communication and education,” he said.