Imtiaz Ahmed, Narayanganj

The Port City district of Narayanganj lies on the outskirts of Dhaka. Although nearly five months remain, the electoral drums have already begun to beat across the district’s five constituencies, as in the rest of the country. Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj) constituency is drawing attention, with the BNP fielding several nomination seekers while Jamaat has a single declared candidate. Aspirants are already active, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and festoons, and engaging in grassroots campaigns with workers. They are busy with yard meetings, rallies, and public contact programs.

At the same time, they are competing with each other to boost the presence of supporters at party events and national programs. Rupganj, bordering Dhaka’s Demra and Mastul, consists of 2 municipalities and 7 unions, with over 400,000 voters. The constituency also contains several thousand small, medium, and large industries, along with the Purbachal New Town project under RAJUK (the capital development authority). Traditionally, the BNP, Awami League, and Jatiya Party have contested here.

Since the July–August uprising, the Awami League has virtually disappeared from open politics, leaving the BNP to face Jamaat in this seat. Though division within BNP over nominations is evident, leaders and activists believe they will unite once the candidate is finalized. Jamaat’s nominated candidate is said to have gained wider recognition compared to before.

In this constituency, five leaders are seeking BNP nomination. Among the prominent ones is former BGMEA president, central committee member, and freedom fighter Kazi Moniruzzaman, who contested here in 2026. Other aspirants include Narayanganj district BNP’s joint convener and central committee member, as well as Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce president, Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiya (Dipu); district convening committee’s joint convener and former Daudpur union chairman, Sharif Ahmed Tutul; Rupganj upazila BNP president Mahfuzur Rahman Humayun; and former Jubo Dal assistant secretary, Dulal Hossain. On the other hand, Jamaat has a single declared candidate: Anwar Hossain Molla.

He has been actively engaged with both party programs and religious/social events. Islami Andolon Bangladesh leader Mufti Abdul Hashemi and expelled BNP leader/former BRTC chairman Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker are also being discussed as possible independent candidates.

Jamaat’s nominated candidate, central Shura council and executive committee member Anwar Hossain Molla, said: “Jamaat is offering people the dream of building a new Bangladesh. The people of Rupganj want to elect their representative through a free and fair election. If elected, I will work to make Rupganj free from land-grabbers, extortion, drugs, and corruption.”

BNP’s freedom fighter and former BGMEA president Kazi Moniruzzaman said: “For 16 years I endured over two hundred attacks and cases under Awami fascism. I have been working to restore BNP’s lost glory in Rupganj and will continue to do so. I am confident that the people will vote for BNP’s sheaf of paddy symbol.”

BNP’s central committee member and Narayanganj convening committee’s first joint convener, Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiya Dipu, said: “I stood in the frontlines against Sheikh Hasina’s attacks and lawsuits on our leaders and activists. Grassroots activists regularly join me in party programs. I hope the party will reward me with a nomination.”

BNP’s convening committee joint convener and former Daudpur union chairman, Sharif Ahmed Tutul, said: “I have always stood with the party, through good times and bad, despite Hasina’s brutality. With a clean image, I hope to unite all and win this seat for BNP.”

Rupganj upazila BNP president and district convening committee member Advocate Mahfuzur Rahman Humayun said: “I have long fought alongside BNP activists for people’s voting rights. I have helped organize BNP against Awami fascism. If nominated, I will win and make Rupganj free from terror and drugs.”

Former Jubo Dal assistant secretary Dulal Hossain said: “I suffered imprisonment and could not stay in Rupganj for 16 years. If elected, I will work for the people.”

Former BRTC chairman Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker said: “If reforms allow, I will contest, and if elected, I will protect people from drugs and land grabbing.”

However, some BNP leaders argue that BNP’s greatest enemy in Rupganj is BNP itself. Unless they resolve internal conflicts before the election, Jamaat’s single candidate will exploit BNP’s five-way division.

Historically, Sultan Uddin Bhuiya of the Jatiya Party was elected MP in 1984. BNP’s Abdul Matin Chowdhury, a standing committee member and later home minister, was elected in 1979 and again in 1991. Since 1991, BNP has won twice while Awami League won four times.

In 1996, Awami League’s retired army chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) K. M. Shafiullah was elected. In 2001, Abdul Matin Chowdhury returned and became textiles minister. In 2008, Golam Dastgir Gazi of Awami League won with a large margin. BNP-Jamaat boycotted the 2014 election, leaving Gazi elected unopposed. He won again in the 2018 and 2024 “midnight elections,” amid widespread allegations.

During his tenure, land grabbing accelerated in Rupganj, as agricultural land was sold off to housing companies, forcing helpless farmers to sell cheap.

Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj) constituency includes Tarab and Kanchan municipalities and seven union councils. It is electoral area no. 204. The current number of voters is 404,088—of which 204,635 are male, 199,451 female, and 2 from the third gender. There are 128 polling centers and 763 booths.

In 1991, BNP’s Abdul Matin Chowdhury won with 60,532 votes against Awami League’s Akhtaruzzaman (53,369). In 1996, AL’s Shafiullah won with 64,878 against BNP’s Matin (53,971). In 2001, Matin again won with 89,136 votes, defeating Shafiullah (78,904). In 2008, AL’s Golam Dastgir Gazi won with 143,279 votes, against BNP’s Kazi Moniruzzaman (95,673). In 2014, Gazi won with 145,350 votes; his nearest rival was an independent with only 6,698. In 2018, he secured 243,739 votes against BNP’s Moniruzzaman, who polled 16,434.