B. Chowdhury Tuhin,  Noakhali 

Hatiya, an isolated island upazila of Noakhali. A unique land floating in the Bay of Bengal—its position in politics is also unique. Once upon a time, Hatia was one of the strongholds of BNP. But over time, the party leadership has been fractured, infighting has occurred, and several influential individuals have emerged. Now the question is—who is getting the BNP nomination for the Noakhali-6 (Hatia) constituency?

Locals said that the politics of Dwip Hatiya is now facing extreme competition. The burden of experience, the trust of the grassroots, and the central connections, all combine to make the nomination battle for Noakhali-6 a heated one. The question now is only a matter of time - who will get the 'last laugh' of Hatia's nomination?

It is learnt that the five names currently being discussed in the list of candidates for nomination are: former MP Engineer Mohammad Fazlul Azim, former industrial affairs secretary of the Jubo Dal central committee Karimul Hai Naeem, known as the most imprisoned Dwip friend, former general secretary of Hatia Upazila BNP Engineer Tanvir Uddin Rajib, and former central Chhatra Dal leader Shahnewaz, who once shook the streets. The political positions, field-level influence and central contacts of these five have now heated up Hatiya politics.

Fazlul Azim: A flag bearer of experience, a long-time member of parliament, his influence in local politics still persists. However, family sources say he is not physically healthy and cannot walk properly. Local senior workers consider him a 'tested face'.

However, a large section of the young generation is telling the daily Desher Khattar, “Times have changed, leadership must also change.”

Karimul Hai Naeem: From organizer to popular face, highest number of cases, jail time, imprisonment with top BNP central leaders, Naeem is influential in the party as the former central industrial affairs secretary of Jubo Dal who became the confidant of BNP Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman. Karimul Hai Naeem is currently the chairman of the BGMEA Market Development Standing Committee. His good relations with the business class and acceptance among the youth have kept him ahead in the nomination race. Meanwhile, a section of BNP is also calling him an island friend.

A section of the leaders and activists are talking about Dainik Desher, Nayeem is a jailed leader of BNP during its difficult times, has no record of any kind of extortion, violence, Hatiyar's son Hatiyar knows everything about the remote areas. He knows everything about the village roads, ghats, river erosion. We want young people like him to come forward with the leadership nomination. Nayeem is a trusted man of Tarique Rahman.