Patuakhali Correspondent

Patuakhali-3 Constituency consists of two upazilas - Gslachipa, Dashmina and one pourashava. This seat has always been identified as a stronghold of the Bangladesh Awami League ( AL) . Since the independence, it has only been lost once in 1986.

Apart from that, the Awami League candidate has won every time. The ruling party Awami League is also active in keeping the seat in their hands in the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections. Several new faces from the Awami League want the nomination from this seat. On the other hand, the nomination of the BNP could go to either VP Nurul Haque Nur or former MP Golam Maula Roni.

The undermentioned aspirants may seek nomination from the ruling Awami League. Running MP SM Shahzada Saju, Dstrict Awami League President heroic freedom fighter Kazi Alamgir Hossain, journalist leader Kishore Kumar Sarkar, former MP A.K.M. Jahangir Hossain's son , A.S.M. Jawad Sujon and Advocate Fakhrul Islam Mukul· It is also learnt that former Director General of the BGB Lieutenant General Abu Hossain Azad will also seek the nomination.

On the other hand, in the BNP, although the party's central executive committee member Hasan Mamun is under discussion, the seat could be divided among DUCSU Vice President Nurul Haque Nur and the controversial former MP Golam Maula Roni.

However, although there is no visible activity of the BNP in the field regarding the election, the leaders and workers of the ruling party are active in the field. The Awami League nomination seekers have started running to get the party's nomination.

Awami League current MP SM Shahzada Saju is quite optimistic about the nomination. He has not been seen to be involved in any controversial activities in his four-and-a-half years in power. He is also known as an MP with a clean image. SM Shahzada said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina nominated me as a new surprise in the eleventh national election to attract young voters. I have been able to fulfil the purpose for which she nominated me. I have worked with the youth generation to keep my image intact and with the people. By working above corruption and bribery, I have created a new history in this region. So I think the party will consider me safe and nominate me again."

Kishore Kumar Sarkar, a journalist leader, is seeking the Awami League nomination. A former leader of the Dhaka Reporters Unity and Dhaka Union of Journalists is at the center of discussion for his works on the development and social welfare in the area. He is at the top of the popularity charts due to his development works, including the improvement of communication facilities in the area, despite not being an elected representative. He is hopeful that he will be evaluated as a new face with a clean image.

While talking to this correspondent Kishore Kumar Sarkar said, "I led the student community after working as a student leader in the Chhatra League and led the society of journalists in my professional career. I have done important works on behalf of the government, including national and international media, from my professional career as a journalist.

Many people in the government, including the leader, are aware of this. In addition, I have been working on the development of the area for many years.

I have launched modern launches for the development of communication facilities in Galachipa and the adjacent Upazila of Rangabali. I have launched luxurious buses on the Dhaka-Galachipa route so that people can enjoy the benefits of the Padma Bridge.

I have provided multiple launches for the communication of the isolated islands of the Upazila. I have been working on the development of roads, ferries, electricity connections, and tourism for many years. In particular, I am working on establishing eco-tourism with the Sonar Char and Heya Islands of the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dream and the sea princess (Sagar Kanya) Kuakata.

There are also various projects to improve the living standards of the coastal fishermen. I think that not only the leader Sheikh Hasina, but also her soldiers have to work from their respective positions, then only the golden Bengal of Bangabandhu can be established. People of all religions and castes love me in the area. If I am nominated, there will be no conflict within the party. I hope the party will evaluate me considering all these, he added. Meanwhile, BNP central executive committee member Hasan Mamun is a frontrunner for the BNP nomination.

However, former DUCSU Vice- President Nurul Haque Nur could also be a contender for the nomination. If BNP and Gono Adhikar Parishad (GAP), a political party founded by Nur, form an alliance, the seat could be lost to BNP. In that case, Nurul Haque Nur, who hails from Galachipa, will contest the election from the seat. Nurul Haque Nur said, "If there is a fair election, I will definitely contest from the Gono Adhikar Parishad. Since my hometown is there, this seat is my first choice. Since BNP and our goals are now the same, there could be an alliance with BNP in that case."

Another controversial figure who is being discussed for the nomination is former MP Golam Maula Roni. He was elected as an MP from the Awami League in 2008, but lost the election in 2018 while running on a BNP ticket. On this matter, Roni said, "I will not participate in the election without a caretaker government. And if I contest, I will definitely seek nomination from the BNP, never from the Awami League. Even if the BNP contests under this government, I will not contest."

In the 11th national election, S.M. Shahjada Saju, the niece of former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) K.M. Nurul Huq, received the Awami League nomination for the Patuakhali-3 (Galachipa-Dashmina) seat, while the BNP nomination went to the controversial former MP Golam Maula Roni. Later, the Awami League candidate, S.M. Shahjada, won by a huge margin. Patuakhali-3 constituency has a total of 2,98,497 voters, including women and men.