A meeting of the Awami League (AL) Parliamentary Nomination Board is being held at the Dhaka district AL office at Tejgaon in the capital to finalise the party’s candidates for the 12th national elections slated for January 7.

Awami League Parliamentary Nomination Board President Sheikh Hasina is presiding over the three-day meeting that started on Thursday. On the first day, candidates for Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions will be finalized and the final list might be published on Sunday.

For the first time in the Awami League’s history, a large number of former bureaucrats, sportsmen, actors-actresses, journalists, businessmen, and lawyers have collected party nomination forms to get the tickets for the boat. In this situation, many AL leaders are very worried. They eye at the AL office at Tejgaon and seek blessing from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Several members of the Awami League Policymaking body said this time Sheikh Hasina will give a surprise by giving nominations to some new faces from bureaucrats and professionals. On the other hand, controversial and physically incapable lawmakers will be dropped. 

Awami League Parliamentary Nomination Board member, also presidium member of the party, Lt. Col. Muhammad Faruk Khan (Retd.) told Bangladesh Pratidin that changing candidates is a regular practice in every election for various reasons including old age, decreasing popularity of a parliamentarian, giving space to young and popular candidates. This will also happen this time. Party chief Sheikh Hasina will give a nomination after scrutinizing and analysis.

Party sources said Sheikh Hasina has been giving warnings to ministers and lawmakers for a long to drop controversial candidates and give nominations to clean image holders.   

Members of the nomination board also said many ministers, lawmakers and central leaders couldn’t give nominations as they have failed to strengthen the party’s position at the grassroots. Besides, those who have failed to do development work during the development spree of the government will also be dropped. 

Awami League presidium member Abdur Rahman told Bangladesh Pratidin that the AL president will choose the fittest persons who can win the elections.

Former principal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Abul Kalam Azad collected forms from Jamalpur-5 constituency, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) former chairman Muhammed Sadique from Sunamganj-2, former secretary Prasanna Kumar Roy from Khulna-1, former secretary Mesbah Uddin from Bhola-4, former secretary  Sourendra Nath Chakraborty from Naogaon-3, former chairman of NBR Ghulam Hussain from Chandpur-1,  former secretary Shah Kamal from Chandpur-5, former secretary Mihir Kanti Majumder from Barguna-1, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s former protocol officer Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim collected Awami League nomination form from Feni-1 constituency.

Former inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Haque collected the AL nomination form from the Shariatpur-1 seat, former SP Mahbub Uddin from Barisal-5, and former DIG Abdul Kahar Akond collected the nomination form from Kishoreganj-2 constituency.   

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) former Director General Abul Hossain bought a nomination form from the Patuakhali-3 constituency and Brigadier General (Rtd.) Nazrul Islam Manik from Sirajganj-3 seat.

Former information adviser to the prime minister Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury from Feni-2, senior journalist Naem Nizam collected AL nomination form from Cumilla-10 constituency, journalist Sohel Sunny from Barisal-2, journalist Arifur Rahman Dolon from Faridpur-1, and journalist Rashedul Islam Biplab collected nomination paper from Kushtia-1 seat. 

At least 30 lawyers want AL nomination this time. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) former vice-chancellor Prof Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan from Tangail-3, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip) former president Dr. Iqbal Arslan from Rajbari-2, former Swachip secretary general Dr. M A Aziz from Mymensingh-4,5 and BMA secretary general Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury collected nomination form from Sylhet-3 constituency.

From entertainment and sports arena, renowned actor and lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor from Nilphamari-2, singer and lawmaker Momtaz Begum from Manikganj-2, actress Mahia Mahi from Chapainawabganj-2, actress Simla from Jhenaidah-1, Shomi Kaiser from Feni-3, actor Masum Parvez Rubel from Barisal-3, actor Danny Sidak from Dhaka-10, actor Siddiqur Rahman from Dhaka-17, Tangail-1, film producer and current president’s son Arshad Adnan from Pabna-5, actor Shakil Khan from Bagerhat-3, Tiger’s former captain and lawmaker Mashrafe Bin Mortaza from Narail-2, cricketer Shakib Al Hasan from Dhaka-10, Magura-1, 2, former deputy minister for sports and former Bangladesh Football Team skipper Arif Khan Joy collected AL nomination form for the forthcoming elections.

Multiple members of the same family have collected the form this time also. Haji Mohammad Salim, his two sons Solaiman Selim and Irfan Selim collected AL nomination forms from Dhaka-7 constituency, late Rahmat Ali’s daughter Rumana Ali Tushi and son Jamil Hasan Durjoy from Gazipur-3, late land minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif’s daughter Mahzabin Shirin Piya, two sons Galibur Rahman Sherif and Shakibur Rahman Sherif, and son-in-law Abul Kalam Azad Mintoo from Pabna-4 seat, freedom fighter Dabirul Islam, his son principal Mazharul Islam Sujan, brother Mohammad Ali, nephew Ali Aslam Juel from Thakurgaon-2, former lawmaker AKMA Awal Saydur Rahman, his three brothers Habibur Rahman Malek, Mojibur Rahman, and Mashiur Rahman Moharaz from Pirozpur-1 constituency, lawmaker Shubid Ali Bhuiyan and his son Daudkandi

upazila chairman Mohammad Ali Sumon from Cumilla-1, Krishak League central committee’s finance secretary Nazir Mia and his wife Nasirnagar upazila Awami League vice-president Roma Akter from Brahmanbaria-1, lawmaker Moslem Uddin, his son Imdadul Haque Selim, and daughter Selima Begum from Mymensingh-6 constituency, lawmaker Kazi Keramat Ali, his younger brother Rajbari district AL general secretary Kazi Ebadat Ali from Rajbari-1, and late parliamentarian Afaj Uddin’s three sons Nazmul Huda Patol Biswas, Arif Ahmed Biswas, and advocate Ejaj Ahmed Mamun Biswas collected AL nomination forms to get the ticket of boat from Kushtia-1 constituency.  

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 23, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.