52 independent candidates from AL in 33 seats in one day

Out of the 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, 52 leaders of the governing Awami League (AL) reported themselves as independent candidates in 33 seats on Tuesday.

Almost all of them collected their nomination papers from the Returning Officer's office on Tuesday.

Among them are at least 10 incumbent MPs, who did not get the party’s nomination for the forthcoming 12th parliamentary election slated for 7 January in 2024.

Among the present MPs who collected nomination papers from the Returning Officer's office as independent candidates yesterday, are Habibe Millat in Sirajganj-2 constituency, Mohammad Subid Ali Bhuiyan in Comilla-1 constituency, Jaya Sengupta (wife of the late Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta) in Sunamganj-2, and Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-4 constituency.

Following the advice of the Awami League’s top brass to run as independent candidates, many of the party’s nomination seekers are choosing to contest independently in various constituencies.

On 26 November, party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suggested independent (dummy) candidates instead of party nominations to make the election competitive, especially because the de facto opposition, BNP, has announced to boycott the election under a partisan government.

The party’s leaders emphasise that attracting voters in non-BNP elections is one of the goals of encouraging leaders to become independent candidates. In addition, the top leadership of the Awami League is considering this issue to ensure that no one can win the election uncontested like that of 2014.

Currently, the party is discussing which of the Awami League leaders will be allowed to participate in the election as independent candidates. The party plans to issue a policy in this regard.

Policy makers of the Awami League are discussing that the 71 parliamentarians, including three state ministers, who were excluded from the party nominations, should not run as independent candidates.

The Awami League is currently engaged in internal discussions regarding the potential impact of independent or rebel candidates running outside the party's official nominees.

Additionally, there is uncertainty surrounding the participation of the 14-party alliance in the upcoming elections. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader addressed these concerns in a recent statement. 

Speaking to reporters at the Awami League president's office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Quader stated, "We have time to decide on who wants to be an independent candidate."

He emphasised, "The election will not be held in a free style. We will see who wants to participate independently. We also have a decision to make. We have a strategic decision. We have time till 17 December (the last day of withdrawal of candidature) for that decision. Within this, we can make changes, corrections, additions, accommodations—everything." 

With only two days remaining for the collection and submission of election nomination papers from the Returning Officer's office, Awami League's policy makers anticipate a potential increase in leaders obtaining nomination papers as independent candidates during this period.

The upcoming 12th National Assembly elections are expected to witness a higher number of independent candidates compared to previous elections. 

The final day for submitting nomination papers is Thursday, and the exact count of individuals collecting and eventually submitting these papers will become clear on that day. However, the total number of independent candidates across the country's 300 seats will not be finalised until the withdrawal period concludes on 17 December.

Incumbent MP from Cumilla-1 (Daudkandi and Titas) constituency, Subid Ali Bhuiyan, has not gotten the party ticket. Instead, the party chose AL Central Working Committee’s science and technology affairs secretary Md Abdus Sabur.

Subid Ali Bhuiyan, who was elected as an MP three times at a stretch, has collected a nomination paper to contest as an independent candidate.

Incumbent MP from Gazipur-3 (Sreepur and parts of Gazipur Sadar) constituency, Iqbal Hossain also announced to take part in the polls as an independent candidate. AL picked up incumbent women’s reserved seat MP, Rumana Ali, for the constituency.

Incumbent MP of Rajshahi-4, Enamul Haque, Satkhira-2 MP Mir Mostaq Ahmed also have decided to contest as an independent candidate.

Habiganj-2 MP (Baniachang-Azmiriganj) Abdul Mazid Khan and Brahmanbaria-5 (Nabinagar) MP Md Ebadul Karim have collected nomination papers as independent candidates.

Besides, Shafiqul Azam Khan of Jhenaidah-2, Imazuddin Pramanik of Naogaon-4 and Ayenuddin of Rajshahi-3 have also collected nomination papers to contest the election as independent candidates.

AL leaders have obtained nomination papers in seven out of 11 constituencies in Cumilla district as rebel or independent candidates. The party has chosen the incumbents as the flag bearers in the upcoming elections but the party leaders are set to compete against them.

AL leaders who did not get the party tickets are set to contest the party’s candidates in all the constituencies in Brahmanbaria. Two leaders will contest as independent candidates against Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haq in Brahmanbaria-4.

AL leaders will contest as rebel candidates in three out of four constituencies in Satkhira.

Former Mayor of Barishal City Corporation (BCC) and general secretary to city Awami League, Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah has collected nomination papers to participate in the polls as an independent candidate in the Barishal-5 (Sadar) constituency.

His supporters and he were dejected as the party did not choose him as a mayoral candidate in the last BCC elections. Sadiq Abdullah sought the party ticket for the national election to retain his influence as a leader. But AL has chosen incumbent MP and state minister for water resources Zahid Faruq.

Speaking to Prothom Alo on Tuesday afternoon, Barishal city Awami League president and Zilla Parishad Chairman AKM Jahangir said they have decided to field Sadiq Abdullah as a candidate in the Sadar constituency. The decision has been taken since the party has relaxed the matter.

Speaking about the overall situation, AL presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak told Prothom Alo on Tuesday that the party will decide next courses of action analysing the events when the time of submission of nomination paper ends on 30 November.