SUNAMGANJ, situated in the country's northeastern Sylhet Division, is gaining attention not just for its natural beauty but also for the rising political activities ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Long known for its sprawling haor wetlands, the district is home to Tanguar Haor, a globally recognised Ramsar site listed by UNESCO.
These wetlands, which flood during the monsoon season, attract thousands of migratory birds and support rich biodiversity. Beyond its ecological significance, the haors form the backbone of the local economy, providing fertile grounds for Boro rice cultivation and abundant fish resources that sustain the livelihood of thousands of residents.
Sunamganj has a prominent place in Bangladeshi cultural history as the birthplace of Hason Raja, the legendary mystic poet and folk bard. His songs, steeped in spiritual and philosophical themes, continue to resonate with audiences and influence Bengali folk music. Scenic rivers like the Jadukata, picturesque lakes such as Niladri Lake, and small hills enhance the district's touristic appeal. Stone quarrying in areas like Bichanakandi also contributes significantly to the local economy.
Even before the official election schedule was announced, the political atmosphere in Sunamganj started heating up. All five parliamentary constituencies in the district are witnessing intensive election campaigns, with young candidates particularly taking a lead in outreach activities.
Multiple candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are actively campaigning in each constituency, showcasing a competitive and crowded political landscape within the party. On the other hand, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has declared candidates for each seat, with their nominees actively covering the constituency areas. Among other Islamic parties, leaders from Khelafat Majlish and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam have also emerged as potential contenders. However, other parties including National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jatiya Party ( JaPa) are yet to ramp up their campaigns.
Political analysts suggest that Sunamganj's election will be closely contested due to the strong presence of both BNP and Jamaat candidates, combined with emerging influence from smaller Islamic parties. Voter mobilisation, local issues, and the candidates' grassroots engagement will likely play crucial roles in determining the final outcomes.
SUNAMGANJ-1: This constituency encompasses Dharamapasha, Jamalganj, Tahirpur, and Madhyanagar upazilas.
In this seat, the BNP candidates include Kamruzzaman Kamrul, former Tahirpur Upazila chairman; Anisul Haque, former District BNP president; Salma Nozir, wife of former MP and District BNP President Nozir Hossain; former Central Jubo Dal leader Mahbubur Rahman; Abdul Motalib Khan, Member of the BNP Convening Committee; Nizam Uddin, Vice-President of the Central Chatra Dal; Barrister Hamidul Haque Liton (Afendi Liton), a Chatra Dal leader; and Alauddin Talukdar, BNP's District Committee Member.
Jamaat has declared Maulana Tofael Ahmad Khan, District Ameer, as its candidate.
Potential candidates from other parties include Professor Chittaranjan Talukdar, District Committee Member from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) while Jamiat Ulema may field its Central Joint Secretary General Maulana Tofazzal Haque Aziz. This diverse pool of candidates has already intensified the campaign atmosphere, with vigorous voter engagement underway.
SUNAMGANJ-2: The constituency includes Derai and Sullah upazilas.
In this seat, BNP hopefuls include former District BNP convener and ex-MP Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, UK-based advocate and former student leader Tahir Raihan Chowdhury Pavel, and former judge Miftah Uddin Chowdhury Rumi.
Jamaat's declared candidate for this constituency is Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Shishir Monir, while Maulana Dr. Shuaib Ahmad, Central Joint Secretary General of Jamiat Ulema is also in the race. These candidates have started extensive campaigning, particularly targeting local communities with grassroots outreach.
SUNAMGANJ-3: This constituency covers Shantiganj and Jagannathpur upazilas.
This parliamentary area has a particularly vibrant set of BNP contenders including Koyeshar M. Ahmad, General Secretary of BNP UK and Member of the BNP Central Executive Committee; UK-based BNP leader Barrister Anwar Hossain; M. A. Sattar, local leader; Ashfaq Sami, local leader; and former District BNP vice-president Nader Ahmad.
Former MP Maulana Shaheenur Pasha Chowdhury is also active in the constituency; he will participate in the polls from Khelafat Majlish. Earlier he was a leader of Jamiat Ulema, but in previous election, he was a candidate of Trinamool BNP, for which Jamiat Ulema expelled him from the party.
Jamaat has declared its District Member Advocate Yasin Khan as its candidate. Campaigning across Jagannathpur and Shantiganj has intensified, with candidates engaging local voters in rallies, community meetings, and door-to-door visits.
From the NCP, District Joint Coordinator Maulana Ishaque Amini and Member Ali Hossain Khan are seeking nominations.
Potential nominees from Jamiat Ulema include Central Publicity Secretary Syed Talha Alam and former District joint secretary Maulana Hammad Saadi.
SUNAMGANJ-4: The constituency is comprised of Bishwamvarpur and Sunamganj Sadar upazilas.
In this seat, BNP candidates include former district BNP senior vice-president and ex-upazila chairman Dewan Zainul Zakirin; former District BNP general secretary and Chatra Dal ex-convener Advocate Nurul Islam Nurul; former president of Chatra Dal and Jubo Dal Abul Monsur Shawkat; former whip Fazlul Haq Aspiar's son Barrister Abidul Haque; BNP leaders Abdul Latif and UK-based BNP leader Golam Rabbani Sohel. Former MP Kalim Uddin Milon from Chatak-Dowarabazar is also seeking nomination.
Jamaat has declared Advocate Shamsuddin, District Nayeb-e-Ameer, as its candidate while Sazaur Raja Chowdhury, District Chief Co-ordinator of NCP, is seeking nomination from the party.
From Jamiat Ulema, Maulana Mukhlisur Rahman Chowdhury, the party's Europe-based Publicity Secretary, is in contention.
The competitive landscape reflects BNP's multiple aspirants against the more consolidated campaigns of Jamaat and Jamiat candidates.
SUNAMGANJ-5: The constituency encompasses Chhatak and Dowarabazar upazilas.
This parliamentary seat features former MP and District BNP Convener Kalim Uddin Ahmad Milon and former upazila chairman and Central BNP Member Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury seeking nomination from the party.
Jamaat has declared Maulana Abdus Salam Madani, a Shura Member of Sylhet City Jamaat, as its candidate. Jamiat Ulema is considering Alhaj Md. Nurul Haque, Assistant Social Welfare Secretary of its Europe branch, as its candidate.
Additionally, independent candidate Md. Jahangir Alam has expressed his intention to contest, adding another layer of competition to the constituency.
Across all constituencies, young candidates appear to be leading aggressive campaigns, leveraging modern tools and grassroots outreach to engage voters. The presence of multiple BNP aspirants in each constituency indicates internal competition, while Jamaat's single-candidate strategy allows for focused campaigning. Meanwhile, other parties like Khelafat Majlish, Jamiat Ulema, and independent candidates are actively exploring alliances and local support networks to strengthen their chances.
The district's political climate has already started to shift, with intensive campaigns and candidate movements marking the beginning of a dynamic electoral season. From BNP's multiple aspirants to Jamaat's organized campaigning and emerging contenders from Islamic and independent groups, Sunamganj promises to be one of the most closely watched districts in the Sylhet Division during the upcoming parliamentary elections.
