Nomination papers of all six candidates contesting the Thakurgaon-1 by-election have been declared valid. Returning Officer and District Election Officer Md Kamrul Islam announced the decision after scrutiny on Tuesday (September 29).
The valid candidates are BNP-nominated district BNP president Mirza Faisal Amin, district BNP vice-president Obaidullah Masud, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Delwar Hossain backed by an 11-party alliance, Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Hafez Dr Md Khademul Islam, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan candidate Md Abdul Alim Nizami, and Bangladesh Congress candidate Hossain Mohammad Omar Faruk.
A total of six candidates from five political parties submitted their nomination papers by 4pm on Sunday (September 27). All six nominations were declared valid following Tuesday’s scrutiny.
According to views gathered from voters at the field level, competition between the BNP and Jamaat candidates is receiving particular attention in the constituency. However, the outcome cannot be determined in advance, and both candidates have previous electoral experience in the seat.
In the 13th parliamentary election held earlier this year, BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir won the Thakurgaon-1 seat with 238,836 votes. His closest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Delwar Hossain, received 141,017 votes, a difference of 97,819 votes.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir subsequently assumed the office of president, resulting in the seat becoming vacant. According to a notice from the National Parliament Secretariat, he assumed the functions of president on August 21, and the seat became vacant from that date.
The Election Commission subsequently announced the schedule for the by-election. Appeals against the scrutiny decision can be filed from September 30 to October 4, with appeals to be disposed of on October 6. October 7 is the deadline for withdrawal of candidature, while election symbols will be allocated on October 8. Voting will take place on October 29.
BNP-nominated candidate and district BNP president Mirza Faisal Amin told Asia Post that his main goal is to build Thakurgaon as a livable, beautiful and peaceful community. He said he wants to reduce unemployment and build a society free from discrimination. He also said development activities in Thakurgaon would continue fully if he is elected.
District BNP vice-president Obaidullah Masud told Asia Post that BNP is a democratic party and that they had applied as part of the nomination process. He said all party members would work together for whoever receives the final “sheaf of paddy” electoral symbol from the party.
Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Delwar Hossain, backed by the 11-party alliance, told Asia Post that previous by-elections held under partisan governments had not created a favourable history in their view. He nevertheless expressed hope that this time they would create a “new history” in Thakurgaon with the support of the people.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Hafez Dr Md Khademul Islam told Asia Post that he has concerns about the election because two major parties are participating. He alleged that there had been various activities in previous elections aimed at helping ruling-party candidates win, and said voters would reject any such activities in the post-July uprising period.
Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan candidate Abdul Alim Nizami told Asia Post that people in the district want change. He claimed to have received broad public support through meetings and rallies in different unions. He said people want to move away from family-based politics and pledged to work to reduce unemployment and develop Thakurgaon if elected.
Bangladesh Congress candidate Hossain Mohammad Omar Faruk told Asia Post that although Thakurgaon is an agriculture-based area, it does not have a BSCIC industrial city or an agricultural EPZ. He said he would seek to reopen the closed airport and establish industries to create employment opportunities for young people if elected.
Returning Officer Md Kamrul Islam told Asia Post that the nomination papers of all six candidates were declared valid following scrutiny on September 29. Appeals can be filed from September 30 to October 4, and appeals will be settled on October 6. The deadline for withdrawal is October 7, electoral symbols will be allocated on October 8, and voting will be held on October 29.
He said all relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies, are making maximum efforts to ensure a fair and orderly election.
The Thakurgaon-1 constituency consists of Thakurgaon Sadar, the newly formed Ruhia and Bhulli upazilas. It has 516,138 registered voters, who will cast their ballots at 185 polling centres containing 989 booths.
