SHARIATPUR, a town in south-central Bangladesh, named after Islamic revivalist Haji Shariatullah, is witnessing a surge in political activities ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. Political heat is rising across the district's three constituencies as parties' ramp up mass contacts, meetings, and campaign programmes.
This district has a total of 748,754 registered voters-383,462 males and 362,292 females. Since the start of this year, prospective parliamentary candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and other political parties have been active across the district.
From the BNP, eight potential candidates are seeking nominations in three constituencies. Among the heavyweights, District BNP General Secretary (GS) Sardar AKM Nasir Uddin is a likely contender for Shariatpur-1, while District BNP President Shafiqur Rahman Kiran is expected to vie for Shariatpur-2. The party is conducting rallies, yard meetings, road meetings, and processions at union, municipality, and ward levels. However, internal divisions persist within BNP in Shariatpur, with some programmes being conducted separately, party insiders confirm.
Meanwhile, Jamaat has finalised its candidates for all three constituencies in Shariatpur. Former Dhaka University Chhatra Shibir President Mosharraf Hossain Masud has been declared for Shariatpur-1, Bangladesh National Doctors Forum Secretary General Professor Muhammad Mahmud Hossain Bakaul declared for Shariatpur-2, and Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation Central Treasurer and Executive Member Maulana Mohammad Azharul Islam declared for Shariatpur-3.
Maulana Abdur Rab Hashemi, the Ameer of Shariatpur District Jamaat-e-Islami, said that Jamaat has finalised its candidates for all three constituencies in Shariatpur for the upcoming 2026 elections.
He further said that Jamaat's popularity has grown both domestically and internationally. Following the announcement of the candidates, they are continuing their election campaigns with the full organizational support of the party, from the ward to the union and central levels.
In this regard, K.M. Maqbul Hossain, the Nayeb-e-Amir of Shariatpur District of Jamaat and a Shura member of the Central Majlis, said, "People like Jamaat-e-Islami. We are confident of winning all three seats. We are now able to carry out the party programme without any hindrance. We have announced all the candidates, and they are already campaigning and engaging in public relations."
Other political groups including National Citizen Party (NCP) and Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) are also seen in the field. Potential candidates from Banladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh are campaigning through leaflet distribution and public meetings.
However, the Awami League (AL), traditionally dominant in Shariatpur, appears absent from visible campaigning. Following the fall of the AL government, many local leaders have reportedly left the area due to legal cases, leaving grassroots workers without active political direction.
Shariatpur District, with its six upazilas, six municipalities, seven police stations, and a population of around 17 lakh, is shaping up to be an intense political battleground in the coming election.
SHARIATPUR-1: This constituency comprises Shariatpur Sadar and Jajira upazilas.
It includes 11 unions and 1 municipality in Shariatpur Sadar Upazila, and 12 unions and 1 municipality in Jajira Upazila. The number of voters here is about 300,000.
Since independence, AL, BNP, Jatiya Party (JaPa), and independent candidates have won this constituency five times, once, twice, and once respectively. The election was suspended in 1996 during the 6th Jatiya Sangsad polls.
At present, former Member of Parliament (MP) Sardar AKM Nasir Uddin, former finance secretary of District BNP Mujibur Rahman, District BNP Organizing Secretary Mahbub Alam Talukder, and Krishak Dal Central Joint GS Mintu Sawdagar are actively leading BNP activities in this constituency.
District BNP GS Sardar Nasir Uddin said, "I will contest if I get the party nomination." District BNP Organizing Secretary Mahbub Alam Talukder said, "I have been involved in BNP politics since my childhood. If the party nominates me, I am ready to contest."
Jamaat has declared Dr. Mosharraf Hossain Masud as its candidate for this seat. He is the former president of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka University.
In addition, several other leaders have announced their intention to contest the election by putting up banners and festoons. They include Khelafat Majlis Central Committee Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin Ahmed, GOP Central Committee Organizing Secretary Advocate Firoz Ahmed Munshi, NCP Central Committee Organizer and Faridpur Region Team Head Abdur Rahman and District Chief Coordinator of NCP Advocate Ruhul Amin, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Central Committee Assistant Secretary General Shaykh al-Hadith Maulana Ziaul Haque Qasemi.
SHARIATPUR-2: This constituency is formed by Naria Upazila, located in the northern part of the district along the Padma River, and Sakhipur Thana, situated in the northeast.
It includes 14 unions, one municipality, and nine unions of Sakhipur Thana under Bhedarganj Upazila. The total number of registered voters in this constituency is 293,477, although the updated voter list, once published, is expected to increase this figure by approximately 5.5 to 6 per cent.
AL has won this seat eight times out of 11 elections, demonstrating its historical stronghold. Currently, the BNP is actively contesting here, with prominent figures such as former MP and District BNP President Shafiqur Rahman Kiron and Krishak Dal Central Committee Vice-President SM Faisal playing key roles.
When contacted, Shafiqur Rahman Kiron said, "I cannot run the party solely according to the constitution; I must follow the directives of the policy-making body. As a large political party, leadership competition is inevitable. Nevertheless, I can proudly say that I have maintained a strong organizational foundation despite facing 17 years of lawsuits, attacks, repression, and oppression."
Apart from BNP, other hopeful candidates include Professor Dr. Mahmud Hossain Bakaul of Jamaat-e-Islami, Md. Dabir Hossain Sheikh, a Shura member of Khelafat Majlish and District GS, as well as AK Jasim Uddin, a member of the Central Executive Committee of BJP; all are eager to contest in the upcoming elections.
SHARIATPUR-3: The constituency encompasses Damudya and Gosairhat upazilas, along with the Bhedarganj Thana area of Bhedarganj Upazila.
It includes 4 unions and 1 municipality of Bhedarganj Upazila, 7 unions and 1 municipality of Damudya Upazila, and 8 unions plus one municipality of Gosairhat Upazila.
Political party leaders and activists in Shariatpur-3 have begun preparations for the upcoming elections.
According to party sources, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's APS, Mia Nur Uddin Apu, and District BNP Organizing Secretary Sayeed Ahmed Aslam are both seeking nomination. These leaders have put up posters, banners, and festoons at the grassroots level to promote their candidacies.
Jamaat has declared Mohammad Azharul Islam, Central Treasurer and Executive Member of Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation, as its candidate; and Khelafat Majlis has nominated Mufti Khabir Uddin, Central Shura Member and District Vice-President, as their candidate. Apart from these, no significant political activity from other parties has been observed in the area.
Regarding the situation, Imran Al Nazir, former convener of the District Committee of e Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM), said that NCP is yet to formally launch its activities in this district. However, they are engaged in various social works aimed at serving the citizens.
Shariatpur is emerging as a crucial political battleground. With vibrant campaigns underway across its three constituencies, the district reflects a complex mix of established political forces and emerging challengers. While BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami actively mobilise supporters, other parties slowly make their presence felt, and the traditionally dominant AL remains largely inactive.
