Parwar and Manju suffer unexpected defeats in Khulna

BNP won four of the six seats in Khulna and Jamaat-e-Islami won two. Among those who lost the seats, Jamaat’s much-talked-about candidate Krishna Nandi lost by the largest margin. She lost to BNP candidate Amir Ejaz Khan by a margin of about 50,000 votes.
In addition, two former MPs faced unexpected defeats. Among them, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar in Khulna-5 and former BNP Khulna division organizing secretary and former metropolitan BNP president Nazrul Islam Manju in Khulna-2. Golam Parwar and Nazrul Islam Manju are notable among the heavyweight candidates who lost in this year’s parliamentary elections. According to a Jamaat source, Golam Parwar may apply for a recount of votes.
Krishna Nandi lost by a huge margin: In Khulna-1 (Batiaghata-Dakop) constituency, BNP candidate Amir Ejaz Khan got 1 lakh 21 thousand 352 votes and Jamaat candidate Krishna Nandi got 70 thousand 346 votes. The difference is 51 thousand six votes. Krishna Nandi is the first Hindu in the history of Jamaat-e-Islami to get party nomination as a follower of Hindu religion. He is serving as the president of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dumuria Upazila Hindu Committee. He is a businessman by profession and his home is in Chuknagar of Dumuria district of Khulna. Twelve candidates are contesting in this constituency. There are 3 lakh 7 thousand 103 voters. There are more than one lakh votes from the Hindu community here. Eight out of 12 are from the Hindu community. The local voters naturally did not accept that a person living in Dumuria has been nominated as Jamaat’s candidate in Khulna-1 constituency. Also, the votes of the Hindu community have been divided. Amir Ejaz Khan, who won from this seat, has been elected as a member of parliament several times in the past few days. This is the first time he has been elected as a member of parliament. Amir Ejaz has the largest margin of votes among all the BNP candidates who won in Khulna.
Parwar’s boat sinks: Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar was defeated in Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Fultala) seat. Former BCB director and former MP Mohammad Ali Azgar Labi won this seat. He won by just 2,608 votes. BNP candidate Mohammad Ali Azgar Labi got 1,48,854 votes and Jamaat candidate Mia Golam Parwar got 1,46,246 votes. There were four candidates in this seat. The deposits of the other two candidates were forfeited. The Hindu community’s votes were a reality in a seat with 4,20,000 voters. Golam Parwar was elected as a member of parliament from this seat during the BNP alliance government in 2001. After a long political hiatus, former MP from Khulna-2 constituency Ali Azgar Lobi contested from Khulna-5 constituency on a party decision. Within a short time, he created a stir across the country by defeating this heavyweight leader of Jamaat. He himself called BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and informed him about the matter. The video of which has gone viral on social media.
A Jamaat source said that Golam Parwar may apply for a recount of votes. He is skeptical about the results of some centers and the seized votes. Golam Parwar got relatively few votes there. The number of voters from the Hindu community is high in Dumuria upazila. Golam Parwar got relatively few votes there. Voters claim that they made Lobi win with the support of Hindu voters and elected a new MP. The party leaders and workers are not able to accept the defeat of this heavyweight leader of Jamaat easily.
Jamaat attacks BNP stronghold in Khulna-2 constituency: Former BNP central leader Nazrul Islam Manju has been defeated in Khulna-2 (Sadar-Sonadanga) constituency. He got 88,197 votes. Former councilor of Ward No. 31 of KCC and Jamaat leader Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal surprised the former MP and defeated him. He got 93,779 votes. The margin of votes was 5,582. In the 9th National Parliament election in 2008, Nazrul Islam Manju defeated the then Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Mizan. In the 2001 parliamentary election, the then BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had won from this constituency. Earlier, this constituency was held by BNP in 1991 and 1996. This constituency in Khulna was known as a BNP stronghold. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Khulna Metropolitan branch General Secretary and lawyer Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal has hit that base.
Party infighting is a major reason behind Nazrul Islam Manzur’s defeat. There are many questions, especially about the involvement of top leaders of the urban BNP in his election work. On the other hand, many BNP leaders have alleged that not giving much importance to his rival Jamaat candidate could be another reason.