Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced its candidate for the by-election in the Thakurgaon-1 constituency, left vacant after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president. Delawar Hossain will remain the party’s candidate for the by-election, having also contested the seat in the 13th national parliamentary election.
His candidacy was formally announced Sunday, August 30, at a responsible persons’ rally held at the Thakurgaon district Jamaat office. The announcement was made by Jamaat’s central assistant secretary general and Rangpur-Dinajpur regional director, Maulana Abdul Halim.
Delawar Hossain currently serves as assistant secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jamaat. He is also a former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Speaking as chief guest at the rally, Maulana Abdul Halim said elections are the primary means of establishing democracy in the country. He said Jamaat-e-Islami continues its movement toward restoring democracy, which is why the party has decided to take part in all types of elections.
He said that, in line with a central decision of the 11-party alliance, Delawar Hossain has been announced as the alliance’s nominated candidate for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election. He expressed hope that if the election is held fairly and voters are able to vote freely, their candidate will win.
At the rally, chaired by district Jamaat Amir Prof Belal Uddin Pradhan, party leaders at various levels spoke, including Jamaat central working council member and Rangpur-Dinajpur regional assistant director, Principal Maulana Momtaz Uddin.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP secretary general, was elected from the Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the national parliamentary election held on February 12. The seat was later declared vacant by the Election Commission after he was elected president.
Delawar Hossain also contested that election as the Jamaat candidate. The Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election soon.