Although the names of more than one leader have been heard to get BNP's nomination for the Member of Parliament candidate in the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election in Naogaon-1 (Niamatpur-Porsha-Sapahar) Constituency, the name of the candidate has been announced by Jamaat.
The Islamic Movement in Bangladesh is currently undergoing verification. However, in order to get the nomination, in addition to regular communication and lobbying with the central leaders, the nomination hopefuls of BNP and Islamic Movement are maintaining contact with local leaders and activists at the field level and maintaining mass contact. And the candidates nominated by Jamaat are continuing their mass contact.
According to information received from various sources, the BNP's possible candidate for this seat is Niamat Upazila BNP President and three-time former MP Dr. Salek Chowdhury. Apart from him, those who will try to get the nomination from the same party are Niamatpur Upazila BNP General Secretary and 2018 parliamentary election nominee Mostafizur Rahman, Niamatpur Upazila BNP former senior vice president Nurul Islam, Jubo Dal former central member Mahmudus Salehin, Porsha Upazila BNP President Ahmed Mozammel Haque Shah Chowdhury and former general secretary Lion Masud Rana.
On the other hand, although Jamaat has nominated Naogaon District Executive Committee Member Principal Mahbubul Alam as its candidate in this constituency, the names of three former presidents of Porsha Upazila Islami Andolan Bangladesh Maoist: Abdul Haque Shah, Maoist: Mostafizur Rahman, Tayyab Shah Chowdhury and district senior member Maoist: Omar Ali Sardar are being heard as candidates for the nomination of Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Dr. Salek Chowdhury has been doing development work in his constituency after being elected as a member of parliament thrice in the past. As such, he is definitely hopeful of getting the nomination of BNP. Even then, many believe that Dr. Salek Chowdhury will have to endure some hardship to get the nomination as there are more than one candidate from his own party in the constituency. However, keeping the 13th parliamentary election in view, he is continuing organizational activities and mass communication in this constituency and it is said that he has been promoting various development-oriented activities of his party and holding yard meetings in the past.
Other candidates are continuing their activities in the same way. Several local top leaders are of the opinion that if the party's central committee fails to take the right decision, the party candidate may have to pay a heavy price in electoral politics by falling victim to internal conflicts. Currently, the local BNP is implementing the various programs given by the central committee in a divided manner. Even then, even though the BNP nomination hopefuls have already continued their mass outreach and campaigning, the candidate for this seat will be the one nominated by the center. And many are saying that the party will have to make a tough calculation about who will be the BNP's sole candidate in the 13th parliamentary election.
On the other hand, there is speculation about what their role will be with the return of Jamaat's registration and symbol. However, Jamaat leaders are not sitting still by announcing a single candidate. They are continuing regular mass outreach. Also, even though the Islami Andolan Bangladesh is not holding mass outreach, they are not sitting still.
However, even though the National Party, People's Rights Council and NCP are largely inactive, experts believe that as the elections get closer, it will be clear that the parties are playing vote politics in the area.
