PATUAKHALI, a coastal district in south-central Bangladesh and once part of the historic Chandradwip Kingdom, is witnessing a surge in political activity ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. Known as the gateway to the Kuakata sea beach and traditionally a stronghold of the Awami League (AL), the district has taken a new turn in its political dynamics.
With the AL noticeably absent from campaigning following recent upheaval, other parties have moved swiftly to occupy the political space. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP), and other smaller alliances have launched widespread grassroots campaign across the district.
Public meetings, leaflet distributions, and village-level gatherings are becoming more frequent as these parties intensify their electioneering efforts, aiming to capitalise on the ruling party's current organizational vacuum. The shift marks a significant change in Patuakhali's electoral landscape.
This is particularly evident in Patuakhali-3, historically an AL fortress. Here, both BNP's National Executive Committee Member Hasan Mamun and GOP President and former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur are seen as strong contenders.
In Patuakhali-2, another AL stronghold, Jamaat-e-Islami is making significant inroads with Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, Secretary of Jamaat's Dhaka South chapter.
Locals and analysts believe BNP-nominated candidates have a strong chance of winning in Patuakhali-1 and Patuakhali-4 if the election is free and fair. BNP, Jamaat, Jatiya Party (JaPa) , GOP, National Citizen Party (NCP), and Bangladesh Aam Janata Party leaders are seen actively campaigning on the ground.
PATUAKHALI-1: The constituency encompasses Dumki, Mirzaganj, and Patuakhali Sadar upazilas.
It is known for a historic rivalry between the AL and BNP. In 1991, former cabinet secretary M. Keramat Ali defeated AL's Shahjahan Mia and later served as a minister in the BNP government.
Since 1995, BNP's candidate in this seat has been Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, who served as Minister for Home and later Commerce after winning in 2001. He is again seeking party nomination.
Another nomination hopeful is newly elected BNP District President Snehangshu Sarkar Kutti. According to BNP leaders, the party is expected to contest all four seats in Patuakhali and is optimistic about victory.
The Awami League's long-time flag bearer in this seat was Advocate Shahjahan Mia, who contested every election since 1991 and won in 1996, 2008, and 2018. He also served as the State Minister for Religious Affairs. However, in 2014 and 2024, the seat went to JaPa's Ruhul Amin Howlader. With Howlader recently expelled from the party, it remains uncertain whether he will run in the upcoming election.
Advocate Mozibur Rahman Toton, General Secretary of Patuakhali District BNP, confidently predicted that BNP would secure all four constituencies in the district with overwhelming voter support.
Following the formation of the new district BNP committee, vibrant election campaign has begun across all constituencies, fostering a festive atmosphere. As a major political party, BNP is seeing multiple aspirants vying for nominations, but Toton emphasised that all will unite behind the chosen candidates to ensure victory.
Toton stressed that grassroots demands call for BNP candidates in all four constituencies, asserting that the greater national interest must guide decisions. He appealed for the attention of central leaders to ensure Patuakhali's constituencies remain with BNP.
In this seat AL's key figure was the late district president Advocate Md. Shahjahan Mia, who contested every election from 1991 until his death, winning in 1996, 2008, and 2018, and serving as State Minister for Religious Affairs.
However, JaPa's former secretary general Ruhul Amin Howladar won the seat in 2014 and 2024 after AL ceded it. With Howladar recently expelled from JaPa, his candidacy remains uncertain.
Jamaat's declared candidate District Ameer Advocate Md. Nazmul Ahsan and GOP's Agriculturist Shahidul Islam Fahim are active in the constituency.
Fahim announced that his party is preparing candidates for all 300 national seats, with himself contesting Patuakhali-1.
Regarding Patuakhali-1, no NCP candidate has been announced yet, though sources suggest former MP and freedom fighter Sardar Abdur Rashid could be nominated. Islamic Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) and other parties have not yet declared candidates.
The constituency with 25 unions and one municipality has 473,371 voters (234,938 women, 238,424 men, and 9 third-gender voters).
PATUAKHALI-2: This constituency covers Bauphal Upazila.
Leaders from various parties have become increasingly active this seat. Among them, BNP nomination seekers are seen busy in fierce competition for party tickets, while Jamaat, having already declared candidate, is focusing its efforts on expanding its voter base.
Although names have surfaced from the NCP and IAB, no notable campaign activities from them have yet been observed.
According to relevant sources, the parliamentary seat consists of 15 unions and one municipality, with a total of 293,323 registered voters. Among them, 143,597 are female voters, 149,725 are male voters, and there is one registered voter of the third-gender.
BNP nomination aspirants are making their presence known day and night through campaign events, mass communication, and participation in political and social programmes. On the other hand, with a single candidate declared, Jamaat is campaigning in full swing for their nominee. Apart from BNP and Jamaat, NCP and IAB activists are also visible on the ground. As the election draws near, all nomination seekers are spending increased time within their respective constituencies.
Currently, five individuals are in the race for the BNP nomination, while Jamaat and NCP each have one candidate.
The BNP nomination contenders actively campaigning include: Md. Munir Hossain, Assistant Office Secretary of BNP's Central Committee, Engr. Faruk Ahmed Talukdar, Member of BNP's National Executive Committee, former BNP MP Shahidul Alam Talukdar and Agriculturist Mizanur Rahman Litu, Joint Secretary General of BNP's farmers' wing (Krishak Dal) Central Committee.
Jamaat has officially nominated Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir's Central Committee, Chairman of Bauphal Development Forum, Member of Jamaat's Central Working Committee, and Secretary of Dhaka South City unit.
From NCP, Central Joint Convener and Assistant Attorney General Mujahidul Islam Shahin is preparing to contest in this constituency. However, IAB is yet to declare a candidate for the seat.
Discussions with grassroots-level activists reveal that although this seat has mostly been held by the AL since independence, it was won by BNP's Shahidul Alam Talukdar in the 2001 election. The seat was reclaimed by AL in 2008. With Awami League's political activities currently restricted, BNP enjoys undisputed dominance in the area.
However, internal discord within BNP is providing Jamaat an opportunity to gain ground. While BNP leaders await the party's nomination decision from the central leadership, Jamaat has already launched grassroots campaign for their declared candidate.
Local political analysts believe that if the Islamic parties can form an alliance, Jamaat's candidate could capitalise on BNP's internal conflicts to secure a win. If such an alliance is not formed, the seat is likely to stay with BNP, they opine.
Maulana Mohammad Ishaq, Ameer of Bauphal Upazila Jamaat, said: "All our election-related activities are ongoing. Alongside campaign efforts, we have nearly completed the formation of election and polling centre management committees, as well as training for polling agents."
On the other hand, Apel Mahmud Firoz, member secretary of the Upazila BNP, said "BNP has a large vote bank in this upazila. It is a big political family, and internal competition is natural. However, once the nomination is finalised, all contenders will come together and work for the victory of the candidate nominated under the 'sheaf of paddy' symbol, putting aside personal rivalries."
PATUAKHALI-3: The constituency includes Galachipa and Dashmina upazilas.
The constituency includes 21 unions and one municipality, with a total of 352,267 registered voters-175,110 female voters, 177,155 male voters, and two from the third-gender.
Historically considered AL stronghold, this seat has witnessed influential political figures from both BNP and AL. In 1979, late Prof. Abdul Baten, a former standing committee member of BNP, was elected MP and served as a State Minister for Education. On the other hand, AL central leader late AKM Jahangir Hossain dominated the constituency after the fall of Ershad in 1991, winning that year and again in June 1996, when he served as State Minister for Textiles. In 2001, he was elected for the third consecutive time.
However, during the 2008 election under the caretaker government, AKM Jahangir was denied nomination due to internal party reforms, and Golam Maula Rony, a resident of Faridpur, was nominated by AL and won the seat. Due to various controversies, Rony was later sidelined by the party and was not nominated in the one-sided 2014 election, in which Jahangir Hossain was re-elected as AL's candidate.
In 2018, due to family ties with the then chief election commissioner Nurul Huda, SM Shahjada was given the AL ticket, once again denying both Jahangir Hossain and Golam Maula Rony.
In response, Rony immediately joined BNP and contested from that party. However, due to violence and alleged voter suppression by AL-backed elements, Rony failed to effectively campaign and lost the election to Shahjada. Since then, he has cut all political ties with local BNP leaders and activists, many of whom were targeted with false cases and harassment after the election.
In 2024, SM Shahjada was again elected as MP from the AL in another uncontested election.
Following Prof. Baten's death, another former MP, Shahjahan Khan, previously of the Jatiya Party, joined BNP in 1995 and contested every election between 1996 and 2008, winning only in the short-lived 15 February 1996 parliament. He was unsuccessful in all other attempts.
For the past 15 years, Hasan Mamun-former general secretary and president of DUCSU's BNP-backed student wing (Chhatra Dal), and a current member of BNP's National Executive Committee-has been a constant presence on the ground.
Locals believe that even during the past 15 years of uninterrupted AL rule, if any of the last three elections had been held under a non-partisan caretaker government, Hasan Mamun would have had a strong chance of defeating AL candidates and becoming MP.
Adding a new dynamic, former DUCSU VP and GOP President Nurul Haque Nur has announced his candidacy from this seat and has already begun engaging in widespread outreach. Political analysts believe his growing popularity could significantly impact the election.
If BNP and GOP contest separately, intense competition is expected. However, if BNP steps aside in favour of Nur, many believe his victory will be highly expected.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated Prof. Shah Alam from this constituency. No notable activity has been observed from the NCP, IAB or other parties.
PATUAKHALI-4: This constituency comprises Kalapara, Kuakata, and Rangabali Upazilas.
With AL's activities largely absent, a tight race is shaping up between BNP and IAB. Jamaat has also entered the fray and is campaigning under its "Balance Scale" symbol.
BNP is expected to nominate ABM Mosharraf Hossain, Central Training Secretary, or former Kalapara Upazila BNP convener Monirul Islam.
Jamaat has nominated Maulana Mohammad Abdul Kaiyum, the local chapter president. Islami Andolan has three main contenders: Professor Mustafizur Rahman (a former BNP MP and two-time upazila chairman who recently joined the party), Mufti Habibur Rahman Hawlader (Upazila President), and Mufti Habibur Rahman Misbah (a senior member).
Professor Mustafizur is reportedly building support through grassroots connections and religious outreach. Mufti Misbah has pledged to support the person whoever the party nominates.
Local sources confirm a high level of voter interest in this seat, especially among first-time voters, who are eager to elect development-oriented candidates.
The constituency consists of 18 union parishads and two municipalities, with 290,692 voters - 143,825 women, 146,864 men, and 3 third-gender individuals.
