Foes within a headache in Sylhet too

All three major political parties are going to face internal rival issue in Sylhet division as nomination seekers substantially surpass the number of constituencies.

Ruling Awami League has around 96 nomination seekers and the BNP 72 in the 19 constituencies in the division. Some 38 aspirants are seeking nomination from Jatiya Party and eight from Jamaat-e-Islami.

In Sylhet, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, who was elected twice in 2008 and 2014 from Sylhet-1 constituency, had earlier said he would not run.

His brother former diplomat Abdul Momen is among several others vying for the party ticket there.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Khandaker Muktadir and BNP central committee member Dr Shariar Hossain Chowdhury are vying for nomination in this seat.

As Jatiya Party does not have any strong candidate here, its local activists want party chief HM Ershad to contest the poll.

Jamaat is also in the race with its Secretary General Shafiqur Rahman likely to contest the election as independent or as part of the BNP-led alliance.

Missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali was elected from Sylhet-2 where his wife Tahsina Tusdir Luna is a candidate now. Each of AL, BNP and JP has at least two aspirants here.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid is the incumbent lawmaker of Sylhet-6 where he is likely to face at least five intra-party candidates.

As many as 27 AL, 24 BNP, 12 JP and five Jamaat candidates have so far been in the electoral race in the district.

In Sunamganj, Dr Joya Sengupta, wife of late AL leader Suranjit Sengupta, is a prospective candidate for Sunamganj-2. But, she might face challenges from six candidates from within.

Similarly, incumbent lawmaker Azizus Samad Azad Don, son of veteran AL leader Abdus Samad Azad, is trying to get party ticket for Sunamganj-3. He has to face challenges from three other intra-party competitors.

Twenty-four AL, 20 BNP, six JP and one Jamaat aspirants are campaigning for party's nomination in the district.

In Moulvibazar, incumbent lawmaker Syeda Saira Mohsin, wife of late social welfare minister Syed Mohsin Ali, is likely to contest from Maulvibazar-3 with AL ticket where M Naser Rahman, president of district unit BNP and son of late finance minister M Saifur Rahman may become her main rival.

However, both of them may face intra-party rivals, as several candidates of both parties are trying to get party ticket there.

As many as 19 AL, 15 BNP, five JP and two Jamaat candidates are trying to get nomination in the district.

Habiganj, with four parliamentary seats, is considered a stronghold of ruling AL. Dewan Farid Gazi of AL won three times in 1996, 2001 and 2008 from Habiganj-1. But, JP took the seat in 2014.

AL lawmakers Abdul Majid Khan and Abu Jahir was elected successively in 2008 and 2014 from Habiganj-2 and Habiganj-3 respectively, while AL candidates won in all the elections since 1991 in Habiganj-4.

However, all the AL candidates along with BNP aspirants have to face intra-party rivals in getting nomination. At least 26 AL, 13 BNP and nine JP aspirants are in the race in Habiganj.

[Our Sylhet correspondent Dwoha Chowdhury contributed to this report.]