Demand for reconsideration of BNP's nomination in Gazipur-2 Seat
Tongi (Gazipur) Correspondent
The abolition of the Gazipur-6 constituency has led to strong demands for a reconsideration of the BNP's current nomination in the reconstituted Gazipur-2 parliamentary constituency. A press conference was held in Gazipur on Tuesday morning, calling for a reevaluation of the nomination based on voter reality, geographical balance and electoral capacity.
The written statement said that the cancellation of the Gazipur-6 constituency and its return to the former Gazipur-2 constituency through the Appellate Division's verdict has brought about a fundamental change in the political and electoral reality of this constituency. Currently, the total number of voters in the Gazipur-2 constituency is about 8 lakh, making it one of the largest and most challenging constituencies in the country.
In the speech, the station and ward-based voter statistics were presented and it was stated that there are 155,309 voters in the 7 wards of Gacha police station and 13,286 voters in a partial part of Pubail police station (ward-39). That is, there are 166,595 voters in Gacha and Pubail combined. On the other hand, there are 373,659 voters in the 15 wards of Tongi East and West police stations and 248,020 voters in the 13 wards of Metro Sadar police station. Out of this, there are only 73,738 voters in the four wards of Kaultia area. This makes it clear that the majority of voters in Gazipur-2 constituency live in Tongi, Gacha and Pubail areas.
The press conference said that the current nomination was given in a completely different reality—when the Gazipur-6 seat was in place and Tongi, Gacha and Pubail were under separate parliamentary constituencies. Reconsidering that decision in the new reality is politically logical and timely. The speakers clarified that this is not a personal antagonism; rather, it is a question of ensuring party interests, voter representation and the possibility of victory.
The written statement further mentioned that Tongi, Gacha and Pubail are part of a common urban reality. In the past, before the formation of Gazipur City Corporation, these areas were under the Tongi Municipality and have been managed in the same socio-political vein for a long time. Historically, the leadership of this constituency has also been centered in Tongi most of the time. There are precedents of leadership being elected from Tongi in the case of various political parties.
At this time, the speakers reminded of the sacrifices and torture of BNP leaders and activists of Gazipur area during the movement and struggle. They said that during the fascist government's rule, many leaders and activists were subjected to imprisonment, persecution, lawsuits and torture. In the 2018 National Parliament elections and Gazipur City Corporation elections, the victory of BNP candidates was snatched through occupying polling stations and vote theft, as a result of which the concerned leaders faced huge political and personal losses.
In this context, the BNP Acting Chairman, Secretary General and Central Nomination Board are urged to listen to the organizational opinions of Tongi, Gacha and Pubail areas seriously, taking into account the current voters and geographical reality of the reorganized Gazipur-2 constituency. If necessary, the current nomination should be reconsidered and a candidate should be nominated who can consolidate the maximum votes in this large and competitive constituency and take BNP to the path of victory.
Former MP from Gazipur-2 constituency BNP central leader Bir Muktijoddha Hasan Uddin Sarkar presented a written statement at the press conference. He expressed his support for former metropolitan BNP convener and central Sramik Dal executive president Alhaj Md. Salah Uddin Sarkar in this constituency. Also present were potential candidates and former metropolitan BNP convener and central Sramik Dal executive president Alhaj Md. Salah Uddin Sarkar, former senior joint convener Rakib Uddin Sarkar Pappu, former Sadar Upazila Parishad chairman and former vice president of metropolitan BNP Afzal Hossain Kaiser, former vice presidents of metropolitan BNP Mahbubul Haque Golap and Akhtaruzzaman, former general secretary of metropolitan Jubo Dal and potential candidate Alhaj Md. Jasim Uddin Bhat, BNP leader Sarkar Shahnur Islam Roni, BNP leader Sheikh Md. Alek, Jasim Uddin Dewan, Jubo Dal leader Soumik Sarkar and various BNP police station and ward level leaders.
