'If elected, I will represent Hindus across Bangladesh': Jamaat candidate Krishna Nandi
This is an honour for me, he says on becoming a Jamaat candidate despite being Hindu
Jamaat-e-Islami's newly nominated Khulna-1 candidate Krishna Nandi said he would seek to represent Hindus not only in the constituency but across the country if elected in the upcoming national election.
Speaking to The Business Standard at his Chuknagar residence in Dumuria today (4 December), Nandi said his candidacy aims to broaden representation in parliament.
"If elected, I will represent not only the Hindus of Khulna-1 but Hindus across Bangladesh in the Parliament. My main objective is to build a Bangladesh of communal harmony," he said.
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On becoming a Jamaat candidate despite being Hindu, he stated, "This is an honour for me. Jamaat is a disciplined party. I will run my campaign according to the party's rules and commitments."
Nandi expressed hope of securing strong support from both majority and minority voters, saying, "I will get a significant share of votes in Hindu-majority areas, and as a Jamaat candidate I believe Muslim voters will support me equally."
A businessman from Chuknagar, Nandi has been active at Jamaat rallies in Dumuria and Fultala for the past year, where noticeable participation from Hindu community people was observed. Jamaat's Khulna-5 candidate, Mia Golam Porwar, is the party's secretary general and has frequently shared the stage with Nandi at those events.
Khulna district Jamaat secretary general Munshi Mizanur Rahman said the party constitution allows members of all religions to contest elections.
"Our ameer has nominated candidates from Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Chakma communities. In that continuation, a Hindu candidate has been nominated in Khulna," he said.
A constituency long dominated by the Awami League
Khulna-1, comprising Batiaghata and Dakop upazilas, is considered an Awami League stronghold.
Except for the one-sided 15 February 1996 election, the BNP has never won the seat. While the leftist parties once had notable influence, Jamaat's organisational presence has historically been limited, though it has grown recently.
The seat – formerly Khulna-5 in 1973 – has seen frequent minority representation. Kuber Chandra Biswas became the first MP, followed by Prafulla Kumar Shil and Prafulla Kumar Mandal. After Sheikh Hasina's 1996 victory and subsequent resignation from this seat, minority candidate Panchanan Biswas defeated AL nominee Sheikh Harunur Rashid in the by-election. Biswas won again in 2001. Nani Gopal Mandal won in 2008, while Biswas returned as AL candidate in 2014 and 2018. Nani Gopal Mandal won again in 2024.
