How the BNP wooed voters in most of the Awami League strongholds
For decades, dozens of constituencies across Bangladesh stood as ‘impregnable fortresses’ for the Awami League. But the 13th national polls has dismantled these legacies, with the BNP capturing a sweeping number of seats, with Jamaat-e-Islami close behind
In the four parliamentary elections held from 1991 to 2008, Awami League candidates won at least three times in 81 parliamentary seats, 29 of which they won all four times.
This time, with the party's activities banned, candidates of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took 62 of these AL strongholds. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami candidates won 15 of these seats and candidates from other parties won four seats.
Of these Awami strongholds, the highest number was 27 in the Dhaka division, followed by 16 seats in the Khulna division. Additionally, six seats in the Barishal division, eight in Sylhet, two in Chattogram, three in Rajshahi, six in Rangpur, and 13 in the Mymensingh division were traditionally considered AL fortresses.
Among the seats in the Dhaka division, BNP secured 23, Jamaat-e-Islami won three, and other parties received one seat. Of the 16 seats in the Khulna division, candidates of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami won eight seats each.
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In the Rangpur division, BNP won five of the AL-loyal seats and another party won one seat.
Mymensingh, where the Awami League had previously held dominance, saw the BNP win 12 of the traditionally AL seats and Jamaat win one.
In the Rajshahi division, BNP won two of the AL stronghold seats and Jamaat won one. Additionally, Jamaat candidates won one traditionally AL seat in Chattogram and one in Mymensingh.
Out of the 20 seats in the Dhaka district, the Awami League had consistently won eight. This year, the BNP took seven of them and Jamaat-e-Islami secured one.
The Faridpur-1 and Faridpur-4 seats went one each to the BNP and a Jamaat-backed candidate.
In Gazipur, the BNP won four of the traditionally AL seats while Jamaat won one.
In the Thakurgaon-1 seat, the Awami League lost only once since 1991. After the BNP and Jamaat formed an alliance, BNP's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir won there in 2001. However, after the Awami League formed an alliance with the Jatiya Party in 2008, it reclaimed the seat, winning by 57,000 votes. This time, Mirza Fakhrul regained the seat.
In the neighbouring Thakurgaon-2 seat, the Awami League candidate had never lost. The seat had belonged to the party since 1986. This time, the 'Sheaf of Paddy' candidate Abdus Salam emerged victorious.
Northern seats where the boat meant certain victory
In the Dinajpur-1 constituency, BNP's Jamiruddin Sircar won in 1979 and Jamaat's Abdullah Al Kafi won in 2001. In all other participatory elections, the Awami League emerged victorious. This time, BNP candidate Monjurul Islam secured victory in the constituency.
In Dinajpur-2 as well, the Awami League lost only once, in 2001, when the 'Boat' candidate Satish Chandra Roy lost to BNP's Mahbubur Rahman. However, in the following election, the Awami League's Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury reclaimed the seat by defeating Mahbubur by a margin of 50,000 votes. This time, BNP's Sadiq Riaz secured the seat.
Dinajpur-5, historically an Awami League bastion, was secured by independent candidate AZM Rezwanul Haque this time.
In the Nilphamari-2 seat, the Awami League made a breakthrough in 2001 by fielding the renowned actor Asaduzzaman Noor and won by an even larger margin in the subsequent election. He also won in 2014. This time, the seat went to Jamaat candidate Al Faruk Abdul Latif.
In Gaibandha-2, neither the BNP nor Jamaat had ever won in a participatory election. While the Jatiya Party won in 1991 and 1996, the Awami League later made the seat its own. This time, however, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate emerged victorious.
Sirajganj-1 is widely known as an Awami League stronghold. Since 1991, the 'Boat' candidate won by huge margins in every participatory election. Mohammed Nasim, the son of Mansur Ali — a minister in the provisional government of independent Bangladesh — used to be the preferred candidate in the area. This time, however, BNP candidate Selim Reza won.
In the Pabna-4 seat, Awami League candidate Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu won three consecutive times. This time, Jamaat's Abu Taleb Mondal won.
Seats of the south-western region
The Khulna-1 seat has always been a guaranteed win for the Awami League. Panchanan Biswas, the 'Boat' candidate who won consistently since 1991, was the contender this time as well. However, BNP's Amir Ezaz Khan won this time.
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina won multiple times in the Bagerhat-1 seat. Her cousin, Sheikh Helal Uddin, also secured easy victories there several times. This time, Jamaat candidate Mashiur Rahman Khan emerged as the winner.
Since 1991, the Awami League had never lost the Magura-1 seat. For the first time, BNP candidate Monwar Hossain won the seat.
The Awami League's position in Narail-1 has also historically been exceptionally strong. There is no record of a BNP victory there since 1991. This time, BNP's Biswas Jahangir Alam won.
Narail-2 also traditionally remained under the Awami League's control. Most recently, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the captain of the national ODI cricket team, served as the Awami League Member of Parliament. This time, Jamaat candidate Ataur Rahman secured victory.
Barishal region
In the Barishal-1 seat, the BNP won only in the 2001 election after 1991. The Awami League emerged victorious in the remaining four elections. Abul Hasnat Abdullah was the 'Boat' candidate there. This time, BNP's Zahiruddin Swapan won.
The Awami League faced defeat only once in the Patuakhali-2 seat since 1991. In 2001, ASMs Feroz lost the seat. This time, Jamaat's Shafiqul Islam won.
Locals long perceived that in Patuakhali-3, the 'Boat' symbol meant certain victory. This time, Gono Odhikar Parishad candidate Md. Nurul Huq won there.
In the Patuakhali-4 seat, the 'Boat' candidate won every time since 1991. This time, BNP's ABM Mosharraf Hossain emerged victorious.
The Barguna-1 seat also went to the BNP.
In the Bhola-2 seat, the Awami League never faced defeat except in 2001. However, in 2008, the Awami League candidate won the seat by a significant margin. This time, BNP's Hafiz Ibrahim won.
Dhaka division
All five seats in the Gazipur district were strongholds of the Awami League. This time, BNP candidates won all five seats.
The Tangail-1 seat also traditionally remained an Awami League bastion. Since 1991, the party had never lost there with the 'Boat' symbol. This time, BNP's Fakir Mahbub Alam won.
After a bitter defeat in 1991, the Awami League won every time in the Kishoreganj-1 seat. This time, the BNP won. In Kishoreganj-4, the current generation had never seen a victory for any symbol other than the 'Boat'. Former President Abdul Hamid turned the seat into an Awami League fortress. This time, BNP's Fazlur Rahman won.
There was never any doubt regarding the Awami League's victory in the three seats of Gopalganj. Instead, post-election discussions usually centred on how few votes the opposition parties received. This time, BNP candidates secured all three seats.
The three seats of Madaripur were also Awami League citadels. Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton in Madaripur-1, Shajahan Khan in Madaripur-2, and Abdus Sobhan Golap in Madaripur-3 served as MPs for a long time. This time, an independent candidate won in Madaripur-1, while BNP candidates won the other two.
The situation was identical in the three seats of the neighbouring Shariatpur district. Voters traditionally did not wish to choose any symbol other than the 'Boat'. This time, BNP candidates won all three.
In the Faridpur-1 seat, no other party had secured a win since 1991. This time, Jamaat won. The Awami League also consistently won in Faridpur-4. This time, the BNP candidate won.
Mymensingh Division
In the Mymensingh-1 seat, the BNP won only once, in 1996. In all other elections, the Awami League emerged victorious. This time, independent candidate Salman Omar won. Mymensingh-2 was also an Awami League seat; this time, the Khelafat Majlish candidate won.
Mymensingh-6 belonged to the Awami League; this time, Jamaat won. In Mymensingh-7, the Awami League lost only in 1991; this time, the BNP won. From the 1991 election until now, the Awami League had never been defeated in the Mymensingh-10 seat; this time, the BNP won. In Mymensingh-11, the Awami League had not lost once since 1991; this time, the BNP won.
In Sherpur-1, the Awami League lost in 1991; this time, Jamaat won.
In Sherpur-2, Awami League candidate Matia Chowdhury lost only in 2001. In the four elections before and after that, the 'Boat' emerged victorious. This time, the BNP won.
The Awami League lost the Netrokona-2 seat in 1991; this time, the BNP candidate won. In Netrokona-3, the Awami League faced defeat only in 2001; this time, the BNP won.
Since 1991, the Awami League's Mirza Azam had been winning the Jamalpur-3 seat. This time, the BNP candidate won. In Jamalpur-5, the Awami League lost only in 1991; this time, the BNP won.
The seats in the districts of Sylhet and Chattogram divisions were also Awami League strongholds. This year, BNP candidates won most of these areas. Jamaat-e-Islami candidates secured a few seats.
