BNP eyes comeback; Jamaat strengthens bases in Chattogram

CHATTOGRAM, once known as Chittagong, the south-eastern port city of Bangladesh is more than just the country's second-largest urban hub. Historically, a vibrant trading port, Chattogram is now often described as the nation's commercial capital, with its strategic coastline along the Bay of Bengal, bustling seaport, and diverse communities. In national politics, Chattogram has always held symbolic as well as numerical importance.

The district contains 16 parliamentary seats, making it a battleground for the country's leading political parties whenever national election approaches.

With the next parliamentary polls proposed for February 2026, the pre-election atmosphere in Chattogram is heating up. Taking the advantage of the absence of the Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami have already set their machinery into motion, putting forward dozens of aspirants across constituencies. In contrast, other political outfits such as the Jatiya Party (JaPa) and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) remain largely invisible in the region, leaving the main electoral fight seemingly poised between BNP and Jamaat.
According to local observers and party insiders, BNP has shown the highest level of activity in Chattogram. The party has more than 50 nomination seekers across 16 constituencies in the district, with leaders already organizing rallies, meetings, and mass contacts to connect with grassroots voters. In comparison, Jamaat has moved more cautiously but has confirmed its candidates for each seat in Greater Chattogram, focusing on activating its district and city units to prepare for a full-scale campaign.

In contrast to BNP's multiple aspirants in each seat, Jamaat has already announced its final line-up of 22 candidates for Greater Chattogram (16 for the district), according to Principal Muhammad Badrul Huq, General Secretary of Jamaat's South district unit. He said, "All 22 candidates of Greater Chattogram have kicked off their election campaigns. They are now going door-to-door among common people to win support."

Jamaat has also reorganised its city, north, and south units, established committees at upazila and union levels, and initiated regular meetings among workers and activists. Its campaign is more disciplined, focusing on grassroots connection - door to door engagement, listening to local problems, promises of service, and mobilising its base. These efforts appear aimed not just at voter outreach, but also at organisational consolidation.

CHATTOGRAM-1: The constituency encompasses Mirsharai Upazila.
In this seat, BNP aspirants include Nurul Amin Chairman, who was nominated in the previous elections; Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, Upazila Unit Convenor; and Nurul Amin, Joint Convenor of North District BNP.
Jamaat has declared Advocate Saifur Rahman, former deputy attorney general, as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-2: The constituency covers Fatikchhari Upazila.
In this seat, BNP contenders seeking nominations are Col. (Retd.) Ajimullah Bahar, Upazila BNP Convenor; Sarwar Alamgir, Joint Convenor of North District BNP; Justice Faisal Mahmud Faizi; and Kader Gani Chowdhury, Central Information and Research Secretary of the party.
Jamaat has nominated Principal Nurul Amin, General Secretary of Chattogram City Jamaat, as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-3: The constituency incorporates Sandwip Upazila.
In this seat, BNP's nomination seekers include Engineer Belayet Hussain, Joint Convenor of North District BNP; former MP Mustafa Kamal Pasha; Milton Bhuiyan, Central Executive Member. Besides, Upazila BNP members Mustafa Kamal Babul and Tarikul Islam are also nomination aspirants.
Jamaat's declared candidate is Alauddin Sikder, Secretary of Chattogram North unit.

CHATTOGRAM-4: The constituency encompasses Sitakunda Upazila, Bangladesh Military Academy, and Chattogram City Corporation Wards No. 9- North Pahartali and No. 10- North Kattali.
In this seat, BNP has Aslam Chowdhury, former joint secretary general, as the nomination seeker.
Jamaat has declared is Anwar Siddiqui Chowdhury, former president of Chhatra Shibir (North Unit), as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-5: The constituency incorporates Hathazari Upazila, Chittagong Cantonment, and Chattogram City Corporation Wards No. 1- South Pahartali, and No. 2- Jalalabad.
In this seat, BNP aspirants include SM Fazlul Huq, former FBCCI president; Mir Helal, Assistant Organising Secretary of the Central Committee; and Barrister Shakila Farzana, daughter of former MP Syed Wahidul Alam.
Jamaat has nominated Engineer Sirajul Islam, Ameer of Hathazari Upazila Jamaat, as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-6: The constituency covers Raozan Upazila.
In this seat, BNP contenders are Golam Akbar Khondker, Adviser to the BNP Chairperson; Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, Vice-Chairman of BNP; and Upazila leader Samir Quader Chowdhury.
Jamaat has declared Shahjahan Manju, Ameer of Raozan Upazila Jamaat, as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-7: The constituency includes Rangunia Upazila and one union parishad of Boalkhali Upazila.
In this seat, BNP aspirants include Kutubuddin Bahar, Upazila BNP Convenor; Hummam Quader Chowdhury, Central Committee Member; and Abu Ahmed Hasnat, Member Secretary of Rangunia Upazila BNP. .
Jamaat's declared candidate is Principal Amiruzzaman, former Ameer of Chattogram North Jamaat.

CHATTOGRAM-8: The constituency encompasses parts of Chattogram City Corporation and all but one union parishad of Boalkhali Upazila.
In this seat, BNP candidates seeking nominations are Ershadullah, City BNP Convenor, and Abu Sufian, former South District convenor.
Jamaat has nominated Dr. Abu Naser, physician and Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) leader, as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-9: The constituency incorporates parts of Chattogram City Corporation.
In this seat, BNP's nomination seekers include former minister Mir Muhammad Nasiruddin; Shamsul Islam, Central Committee Member; and Abul Hashem Bakkar, former member secretary of District South unit.
Jamaat's declared candidate is Dr. Fazlul Haque, BMA leader.

CHATTOGRAM-10: The constituency covers Halishahar Cantonment and parts of Chattogram City Corporation.
In this seat, BNP aspirants are Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Standing Committee Member, and Sayeed Al Noman, son of late Abdullah Al Noman.
Jamaat's candidate is Principal Shamsuzzaman Helali, Organising Secretary of City Jamaat.

CHATTOGRAM-11: The constituency includes Port of Chattogram and parts of Chattogram City Corporation.
In this seat, BNP may field Israfil Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, son of Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
Jamaat has declared Muhammad Shafi, former Chattogram City Corporation Councillor, as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-12: The constituency incorporates all but five union parishads of Patiya Upazila: Bara Uthan, Char Lakshya, Char Patharghata, Juldha, and Sikalbaha.
In this seat, BNP aspirants include former MP Shahjahan Jewel; Enamul Huq Enam, former joint convenor of District BNP and Syed Sadat Ahmed, Central Committee Member.
Dr. Faridul Alam, a BMA leader, has been nominated as the Jamaat candidate. He currently serves as the Chairman of Chattogram Chevron Medical Hospital and as the Executive Director of Metropolitan Hospital.

CHATTOGRAM-13: The constituency covers Karnaphuli Thana, Anwara Upazila, and five union parishads of Patiya Upazila: Bara Uthan, Char Lakshya, Char Patharghata, Juldha, and Sikalbaha.
In this seat, BNP contenders are former MP Sarwar Jamal Nizam; Mustafizur Rahman, former member of District BNP South unit; Lion Helaluddin, former member secretary of the BNP South unit; and Ali Abbas, Joint Convenor of District South unit of BNP.
Meanwhile, Jamaat has declared Professor Mahmudul Hasan, Organising Secretary of South Jamaat as their candidate for the seat.

CHATTOGRAM-14: The constituency encompasses Chandanaish Upazila and six union parishads of Satkania Upazila: Bazalia, Dharmapur, Kaliais, Keochia, Khagaria, and Puranagar.
In this seat, BNP aspirants are Prof. Mohsin Zillur Karim, Central Family Planning Secretary; Advocate Mizanul Huq, former vice-president of District BNP; M A Hashem Raju, former JCD leader; and Nurul Anwar, Convenor of Upazila BNP.
Jamaat's declared candidate is Dr. Shahadat Hossain, an eye specialist.

CHATTOGRAM-15: The constituency incorporates Lohagara Upazila and all but six union parishads of Satkania Upazila: Bazlia, Dharmapur, Kalais, Keochia, Khagaria, and Puranagar.
In this seat, BNP contenders include Sheikh Mohiuddin, former South District secretary; Nazmul Mustafa Amin, Convenor of Lohagara BNP; and Jamal Hussain, Convenor of Satkania Upazila unit.
Jamaat has declared Shahjahan Chowdhury, former MP and ex-City Ameer, as its candidate.

CHATTOGRAM-16: The constituency covers Banshkhali Upazila.
In this seat, BNP hopefuls are: two sons of late minister Jafarul Islam Chowdhury- Jahirul Islam Chowdhury Alamgir, former assistant secretary of District BNP's South unit and Miskatul Islam Chowdhury, Joint Convenor of District's South unit; Kamrul Islam Hussaini, former joint general secretary of South unit of District BNP; and former joint secretary of South unit of District BNP Liakat Ali Chairman.

Jamaat has nominated former upazila chairman Mohammad Zahirul Islam as its candidate. He has begun campaigning in Chattogram following the announcement of final candidates.

With the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election drawing near, both BNP and Jamaat appear determined to regain lost ground in Chattogram-a region long considered their stronghold but was significantly challenged by the AL dominance in the last two elections.

The district's 16 seats are not just local jurisdictions: they represent economic hubs, ports, trade corridors, and populous mixed urban-rural electorates.

BNP's large aspirant field shows ambition but also carries risk: internal splits, disagreements over nominations, and possible voter confusion if multiple aspirants stay in the race. Jamaat's more unified approach may benefit from coherence and disciplined grassroots mobilisation, especially if voters seek alternatives to AL but are wary of factionalism.

In addition, local issues are likely to matter: infrastructure, port development, connectivity, urban services, employment, environment, and local welfare. Candidates who can balance national ideologies with effective local promises may perform best. How both parties address minority rights, communal harmony, and economic grievances will also be watched closely, especially in mixed communities around Chattogram.