BNP moves to reclaim Khulna-2 while Jamaat eyes surprise

Khulna-2, one of the six parliamentary constituencies in Khulna district, is witnessing an intense electoral contest ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) seeking to reclaim the seat and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami aiming to spring a surprise.

The Khulna-2 constituency comprises Ward No. 16 to 31 of the Khulna City Corporation, covering areas under Khulna Sadar and Sonadanga police stations. It is the 100th constituency of the parliament. Only three candidates are contesting the seat, contributing to a festive campaign atmosphere in the city.

According to data from the Khulna District Election Office, the constituency has a total of 331,155 voters. Among them, 162,976 are male, 168,169 are female, and 10 are transgender voters. A total of 1,300 voters have already registered to cast their ballots through the postal voting system from prison. The constituency has 157 polling stations with 657 polling booths.

Three candidates are BNP nominee Nazrul Islam Manju, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal, and Mufti Amanullah of Islami Andolon Bangladesh.

In previous participatory and competitive elections, the BNP has traditionally performed well in Khulna-2. Nazrul Islam Manju last won the seat in the 2008 election, despite an overall landslide victory by the Awami League that year. After an 18-year gap, the BNP has once again fielded him in an effort to regain the constituency.

Jamaat-e-Islami nominee Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal, a former councillor of Ward No. 31 of the Khulna City Corporation, is contesting the seat with the aim of making a breakthrough in Khulna Sadar, widely regarded as a prestigious constituency.

The third contender, Mufti Amanullah, is the president of Islami Andolon Bangladesh’s Khulna Metropolitan City unit. An MSc graduate and a teacher by profession, he is contesting the election on a platform centred on social reform and ethical governance.

Speaking to reporters, BNP candidate Nazrul Islam Manju said Khulna city has long been a stronghold of the BNP, noting that the party has won every participatory election held in the constituency. He claimed that many of Khulna’s major infrastructures were developed during BNP-led governments and alleged that the city has been deprived of development in recent years.

Expressing confidence in voter support, Manju said he aims to revive the local economy by reopening closed factories and creating employment opportunities for young people. He pointed to the shutdown of several state-owned and traditional industrial establishments in the constituency, including Dada Match Factory, Khulna Textile Mills, Khulna Newsprint Mills, Khulna Hardboard Mills, and a number of jute mills.

Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal said voters are seeking change after what he described as repeated disappointment with major political parties. He claimed that people now want a city free from extortion, illegal encroachments, and insecurity, and urged voters to support Jamaat’s vision of building a disciplined and working-class-friendly Khulna.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Amanullah said there is no alternative to unity and ethical politics in building an education-friendly and drug-free society. He pledged to work for the establishment of a modern Khulna city and said that, if elected, he would pursue peaceful politics to safeguard people’s rights and combat corruption, misrule, and discrimination.

Voters in different areas of Khulna city said that all three candidates enjoy a positive reputation and are generally viewed as honest and respectable. Many voters said their choice would depend on the candidates’ development plans for Khulna and their respective party positions.

Maintaining law and order, curbing drug abuse, and stopping extortion were identified by voters as key priorities for the next member of parliament.

Khulna District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Asam Jamshed Khandaker said the election environment in the constituency has remained peaceful so far. He added that preparations are progressing smoothly and expressed hope for a high voter turnout on polling day.