Sylhet has witnessed a lively, almost festive atmosphere as candidates rushed to submit nomination papers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections. By Monday evening (29 December), a total of 47 candidates had filed nominations across the district’s six constituencies.
According to the Returning Office, 34 candidates submitted their papers at the office of Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Sarwar Alam, while the remaining 13 filed through assistant returning offices in different upazilas. Earlier, 56 aspirants had collected nomination forms across these constituencies.
How Many Filed Where
Data from the Returning Office shows:
- Sylhet-1: All 10 who collected forms submitted nominations
- Sylhet-2: 9 submissions out of 10 form buyers
- Sylhet-3: 9 submissions out of 11
- Sylhet-4: 7 out of 8
- Sylhet-5: 6 out of 8
- Sylhet-6: 6 out of 9
Party-wise Snapshot
Among the submitted nomination papers are:
BNP (6), Jamaat-e-Islami (6), NCP (3), Gono Odhikar Parishad (4), Jatiya Party (5), Khelafat Majlish (5), Islami Andolan Bangladesh (4), Muslim League (1), BASAD (1), BASAD Marxist (1), Insaniyat Biplob (1), Gono Forum (2), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (1), Communist Party (1), and six independent candidates.
Constituency Highlights
Sylhet-1 (City Corporation & Sadar Upazila):
BNP’s lone nominee, party chairperson’s adviser Khandaker Abdul Mukitadir, has filed his papers. Jamaat’s district ameer Maulana Habibur Rahman is also contesting, alongside NCP’s central joint convener Ehteshamul Haque, CPB’s Md Anwar Hossain, BASAD’s Pronob Jyoti Pal, candidates from Islami Andolan, Khelafat Majlish, Gono Odhikar Parishad and BASAD (Marxist).
Sylhet-2 (Bishwanath & Osmani Nagar):
Tahsina Rushdir Luna, wife of missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali, has submitted nomination as BNP’s lone candidate. Her son Md Abrar Ilias is running independently. Candidates from Khelafat Majlish, Gono Forum, Jamaat, Jatiya Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Islami Andolan and another independent have also filed.
Sylhet-3 (South Surma, Fenchuganj & Balaganj):
Former UK BNP president M A Malik has filed as BNP’s candidate. Jamaat’s former Upazila Chairman Lokman Ahmad is also contesting, along with candidates from NCP, Jatiya Party, Khelafat Majlish, Islami Andolan and independent contenders.
Sylhet-4 (Gowainghat, Companiganj & Jaintapur):
Former Sylhet City Mayor and BNP chairperson’s adviser Ariful Haque Chowdhury has filed as BNP’s single candidate here. Jamaat’s former upazila chairman Zainal Abedin, NCP’s Russell Ul Alam and several others from Jatiya Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Khelafat Majlish and Islami Andolan are also in the race.
Sylhet-5 (Kanaighat & Zakiganj):
BNP has left this seat for its ally Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam chief Ubaydullah Faruq, who has submitted his nomination. District BNP vice president Mamunur Rashid is contesting independently. Jamaat, Muslim League, Khelafat Majlish and Jatiya Party candidates have also filed papers.
Sylhet-6 (Beanibazar & Golapganj):
Two BNP nominees have filed—district BNP general secretary Emran Ahmed Chowdhury and alternative candidate Faisal Ahmed Chowdhury. Jamaat’s Dhaka North city ameer Muhammad Selim Uddin, along with candidates from Gono Odhikar Parishad, Jatiya Party and an independent contender, have also joined the race.
With nominations filed, the political atmosphere in Sylhet has now moved into the next phase—scrutiny, campaigning, and rising anticipation ahead of the polls.