GOPALGANJ — BNP candidates have won all three Gopalganj seats in the 13th national parliamentary election, ending more than five decades of single-party Awami League dominance in the district.
The three seats had long been held by Awami League heavyweights. Awami League activities were banned on Aug. 5, 2024, citing the political situation, and the party could not contest the 13th national election.
A total of 26 candidates competed for the three seats, including those from BNP, the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the Jatiya Party, Gono Forum, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and independents. Turnout across the three seats was 40 percent.
In Gopalganj-1, BNP joint organizing secretary for Faridpur division Selimuzzaman Molla won with 68,867 votes. The seat had been held by former minister and Awami League presidium member Md. Faruk Khan, who was elected six times in a row, from the sixth to the 12th national elections.
In Gopalganj-2, joint convener of the district BNP and central leader of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh Dr. K.M. Babar Ali was elected with 40,048 votes. Awami League presidium member Fazlul Karim Selim, another heavyweight, had won the seat nine times in a row.
In Gopalganj-3, Swechchhasebak Dal central president S.M. Jilani won with 60,166 votes. The seat, considered a VVIP constituency, had been held by Sheikh Hasina, who won there seven times in a row.
Humayra Tabassum, a first-year political science undergraduate at Gopalganj Government College, said she voted for the first time. “I am happy to have been able to vote for the party and the candidate of my choice,” she said.
Dr. Abu Saleh, a political science teacher at the Science and Technology University and a political analyst, told Jugantor the result reflects the appetite for change among Gopalganj residents after the political transition.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report