Over 100 business leaders in nomination race

Over 100 entrepreneurs are seeking nominations from different political parties to participate in the upcoming 11th National Parliamentary Elections to be held on December 30.
They are former and current business leaders mainly of FBCCI, BGMEA, BTMA, BKMEA, bank owners, private sector power producers, pharmaceuticals manufacturers and members of many trade organizations who are also top leaders of ruling Awami League, BNP and other parties.
The much-talked-about names are renowned     entrepreneurs Salman F Rahman, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Yousuf Abdullah Harun and BTMA Director  Engr Muzaffar Hossain, woman entrepreneur Salima Ahmed, former BGMEA presidents SM Fazlul Haque, Tipu Munshi, Abdus Salam Murshedy and few other current leaders like SM Nasir, Abdul Mannan Kochi, Mahmudul Hassan Khan Babu, FBCCI Director Dr Kazi Erteja Hassan, among others.

The aspirants are trying to get the tickets of the major political parties like Bangladesh Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya Party (E), Jukto Front, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Liberal Democratic Party, Gano Forum, Islamic parties, leftist parties and many others.
Among the nomination aspirant entrepreneurs a good numbers are already members of the parliament and they are also trying for the 11th parliamentary elections with the first time nomination seekers.

The aspirants vying for nominations are former FBCCI president and Beximco Group chairman Salman F Rahman from Dhaka-1 on AL ticket, another former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo from Feni Chagolnaiya (BNP), the now defunct City Cell chairman and former foreign minister M Morshed Khan from Chattagram (BNP), Pharmaceuticals producer and Acme founder Mizanur Rahman Sinha from Munshiganj (BNP), Premier Bank owner Dr HBM Iqbal in Dhaka (AL), the bank's other owner Bazlul Haq Haroon, Mercantile Bank chairman AKM Shahed Reza Shimul from Feni-2 (AL), the banks former chairman and running MP Morshed Alam from Noakhali-2 (AL), former BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy from Khulna-4 (AL) according to sources former FBCCI president Yousuf Abdullah Haroon is going to contest from Cumilla on AL ticket.

Besides, former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi from Rangpur, Women Chamber of Commerce president Salima Ahmed from Daudkandi, BGMEA Vice President Mahmudul Hassan Khan Babu from Chuadanga-2, the association's other Vice President SM Nasir from Chattagram (Patiya), Exim Bank's director Habibullah Don from Gulshan as Independent candidate, FBCCI director Abu Naser with boat symbol from Tangail and the apex trade body's another director Abu Motalib from Dhaka city (South) with sheaf of paddy.

Engr Mozaffar Hossain, a BTMA director, is contesting on AL ticket from Jamalpur-5.
Among many other aspirants are FBCCI directors, Masud Parvez Khan Imran from Cumilla, Nagibul Islam Dip, Dilip Kumar Agarwala from Chuadanga on AL ticket and Rezaul Karim Reznu from Jamalpur. The BKMEA former first-vice president Aslam Sani is contesting from Narsingdi-4 (Belabo, Manahordi) on AL ticket.

Apart from the above the other entrepreneurs contesting on BNP tickets are Shahabuddin Ahmed, Abdul Mannan and Abu Ashfaq from Dhaka, Mahbubur Rahman Sumon, Nazrul Islam Azad, Dipu Bhuiyan and Shah Alam from Narayanganj, Nazmul Anwar, Nasir Uddin Hazari and Khaled Mahabub from Brahmanbaria, Abul Kalam Chaity, Haji Aminur Rashid Yasin, Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan, Alauddin Ahmed, Zakaria Taher Sumon and Col (Retd) Anwarul Azim from Cumilla, Sheikh Farid Uddin Ahmed Manik, Lion Harunur Rashid, Abdul Hannan, Engr Mominur Rahman, GM Fazlul Haque and Dr Jalaluddin from Chandpur.

Moreover, the other aspirants on BNP tickets are Jamal Kamal and Kiron Ahmed from Shariatpur, Faysal Alim from Joypurhat, Hafizur Rahman from Dinajpur, Shamsuzzaman from Nilphamari, Shukrana Ahmed and GM Siraj from Bagura, Sanju Khan from Pabna, Swapan Fakir and Abdul Matin from Tangail, Rashiduzzaman Millat from Jamalpur, Hazrat Ali from Sherpur, Zakir Hossain Bablu from Mymenshing, Syedeul Alam Babul from Gazipur, Afroza Khan Rita and Moynul Islam from Manikganj, Shamsuddin, Ershadullah and Aslam Chowdhury from Chattagram, Nasir Uddin from Faridpur, Kazi Salimul Haq Kamal from Magura, TS Ayub from Jashore, Milton Morshed from Meherpur, Prof Majedur Rahman and Shah Sharif Kamal Taj from Khulna and Dr Sheikh Faridul Alam from Bagerhat.
Apart from BNP ticket aspirants a good number of other businessmen are aspirants of AL, Jatiya Party and other party tickets.