Surprise upsets shake rivals as Jamaat topples traditional strongholds
Younger generation taking the reins
Breaking from its usual northern strongholds, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami made a big splash in the latest national polls, snatching seats in Dhaka's outskirts and other areas long dominated by rivals. Many of the party's winners were former leaders of its student wing, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, highlighting a new, younger generation taking the reins.
In Gazipur-4, an Awami League bastion, Jamaat pulled off a surprise. Former Chhatra Shibir central president Salah Uddin bagged 99,407 votes, edging out BNP's Shah Reazul Hannan, who got 90,160 — a margin of 9,247.
Patuakhali-2, historically a BNP stronghold, saw Jamaat's Shafiqul Islam Masud, a former Shibir chief known locally for social work and free medical camps run by his doctor wife, storm past BNP veteran Shahidul Alam Talukdar. Masud secured 98,438 votes to Shahidul's 72,191.
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Sherpur-1, long held by the Awami League (and last won by BNP in 1996), flipped as former Shibir central president Rashidul Islam Rashed, deputed from Dhaka, cruised to 125,941 votes, defeating BNP's Sansila Jebrin Priyanka, who received 77,808.
In Bagerhat-2, where Awami League usually dominates, young Jamaat leader Sheikh Manjurul Haq Rahad, a former Shibir district secretary, broke through with 117,709 votes, leaving BNP's Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain trailing at 66,409.
Mymensingh-6, another Awami League stronghold where BNP has rarely won, also went to Jamaat. Youth leader Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Milon unofficially took the seat with 75,946 votes, ahead of independent Akhtar Sultana at 52,669, while other candidates lagged.
Joypurhat-1, a BNP fortress historically, also saw Jamaat's Fazlur Rahman Saeed break through, winning by 9,041 votes over BNP's Masud Rana Pradhan. Across all 151 centres, Saeed got 163,876 votes to Pradhan's 154,835.
Perhaps the biggest shock came in Kushtia-3, a seat BNP has won nearly five times. Jamaat's Mufti Amir Hamza, known for his controversial statements and public apologies citing mental sickness, was unofficially declared elected with 180,690 votes – 53,781 ahead of his nearest rival – cementing a decisive victory.
