The political landscape in Sylhet Division has taken a clearer, yet more complex, shape as the deadline for withdrawal of nominations for the parliamentary elections passed on Tuesday.
While a total of 26 candidates withdrew from 19 constituencies across the division, five rebel candidates from BNP chose to remain in the contest, complicating their party’s electoral calculations.
According to Election Commission sources, the five BNP rebels are contesting as independent candidates despite the party’s official nominations in their respective constituencies.
Their decision to stay in the race is being seen locally as a significant challenge for BNP and its alliance partners, particularly in tightly contested seats.
The rebel candidates include Mamunur Rashid, popularly known as CUCSU Mamun, in Sylhet-5; Sheikh Sujat Mia in Habiganj-1; Mohsin Mia Madhu in Moulvibazar-4; Barrister Anwar Hossain in Sunamganj-3; and Dewan Zainul Zakirin in Sunamganj-4. All five are former or recently expelled BNP leaders with established political influence in their areas.
In Sylhet-5, Mamunur Rashid is the sole rebel candidate in the district. His decision to contest as an independent led to his recent expulsion from BNP, where he had been serving as vice-president of the Sylhet district unit.
The constituency has drawn particular attention as BNP has not fielded its own candidate there, leaving the seat open for an alliance partner. Jamaat-e-Islami president Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq is contesting from the constituency, adding another layer of political intrigue.
In Moulvibazar-4, which covers Srimangal and Komolganj, former Srimangal municipality mayor Mohsin Mia Madhu is running independently. A member of the BNP convening committee, Mohsin Mia faces BNP’s official candidate Haji Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury. Local observers believe the contest could split BNP-leaning votes in the tea garden-dominated constituency.
Sunamganj district has emerged as a hotspot for rebel candidacies. In Sunamganj-3, comprising Jagannathpur and Shantiganj, BNP central committee member Koyesh Ahmed is the party’s nominated candidate.
He, however, faces competition from Barrister Anwar Hossain, a former district BNP vice-president now contesting independently.
A similar situation exists in Sunamganj-4, which includes Sunamganj Sadar and Bishwambarpur.
BNP has nominated Advocate Nurul Islam Nurul, a former district secretary and current member of the party’s convening committee. Challenging him is Dewan Zainul Zakirin, also a former district BNP vice-president, who has opted to remain in the race as an independent.
Not all rebel candidates, however, chose to defy party pressure. In Sunamganj-5, covering Chhatak and Dowarabazar, BNP central executive committee member Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury Mizan withdrew his nomination on the final day, easing concerns of internal vote division in that constituency.
In Habiganj-1, encompassing Nabiganj and Bahubal, BNP’s official candidate is Dr Reza Kibria. He faces Sheikh Sujat Mia, a former district BNP president, joint convenor and ex-MP, who is contesting independently.
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Sheikh Sujat’s continued presence in the race is widely viewed as a test of BNP’s organisational discipline in the district.
Local political analysts say the participation of these rebel candidates could significantly influence the outcomes in their constituencies by dividing traditional BNP support bases.
As campaigning intensifies, how the party manages internal dissent in Sylhet Division may prove crucial to its overall electoral performance.