Asif Mahmud to contest in BNP stronghold

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan played a key role in the unstoppable momentum of the July uprising. 

Despite being detained in Aynaghar and held at the DB office, no one could sway his resolve. 

In a video message, he declared that the “Long March to Dhaka” will take place on 5th July, not on the 6th July as previously announced. 

This declaration seemed to have captured the attention of everyone involved in the movement.

Meanwhile, in his home area, Asif Mahmud’s father has announced that his son will run in the upcoming election. 

He even sought prayers for his son during a religious gathering (Waz Mahfil). 

As a result, Asif Mahmud is expected to contest from the Comilla-3 constituency in the upcoming election. 

However, five-time elected candidate Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad is also in the race. 

After 13 years abroad, he has returned to the country and is actively campaigning.

A Glimpse of Comilla-3

The Comilla-3 constituency currently comprises the Muradnagar Thana (sub-district) of Comilla. 

After the constituency boundaries were redrawn, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, now a BNP leader, has been in charge. 

Although he was elected three times as a candidate of the Jatiya Party, after joining the BNP, he maintained an unchallenged dominance in the constituency.

From 1991 to 2008, two candidates held office in this constituency across four elections. 

While the BNP candidate served two terms, he was previously elected from the Jatiya Party. 

Many consider this area to be Kaikobad or BNP’s stronghold. 

Kaikobad has also earned a reputation for personal integrity and his work in the area. 

In 2014, an independent candidate was elected from this seat, with another independent candidate being his closest competitor. 

Even in the 2024 election, the Awami League candidate lost in this constituency, further solidifying the influence of BNP leaders and workers.

With BNP‍‍`s leadership still intact, the area continues to be regarded as a BNP stronghold.

Past Election Winners

In the 2024 election, there were 460,979 registered voters in the Comilla-3 constituency. Due to BNP’s decision to boycott the election, Jahangir Alam, an independent candidate with the eagle symbol, won with 83,971 votes. 

His closest rival, Awami League’s Yusuf Abdullah Harun, received 72,014 votes.

In the Eleventh National Parliamentary Election in 2018, an Awami League candidate was elected as a Member of Parliament from Comilla-3 (Muradnagar) for the first time in 45 years. 

The winner was Yusuf Abdullah Harun, the former Central Committee Secretary for Finance and Planning. He secured 273,182 votes from 137 polling stations, with his closest competitor, KM Mojibul Haque, receiving 12,358 votes under the BNP‍‍`s “sheaf of paddy” symbol.

However, in 2014, when BNP boycotted the election, the Awami League‍‍`s candidate did not win in this constituency. 

Instead, independent candidate Yusuf Abdullah Harun won with 78,647 votes. 

His closest rival was another independent candidate, Ahsanul Alam Kishore, who received 56,366 votes.

In the Ninth National Parliamentary Election in 2008, BNP’s Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad won the seat with 124,386 votes, while Awami League’s Jahangir Alam Sarkar received 109,823 votes.

Before that, in the Eighth National Parliamentary Election in 2001, BNP’s Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad again won the seat with 107,511 votes, while Awami League’s Yusuf Abdullah Harun received 83,301 votes.

In the 1996 election, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain also won, but at that time, he was a Jatiya Party candidate contesting with the plough symbol.

He secured 53,892 votes, while Awami League’s Yusuf Abdullah Harun received 50,063 votes.

In the Fifth National Parliamentary Election in 1991, BNP candidate Rafiqul Islam won with 46,380 votes. 

His closest rival was Awami League’s Jahangir Alam, who received 44,797 votes. 

However, during that election, independent candidate Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad also contested and garnered 34,963 votes.

Asif Mahmud‍‍`s Background

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan was born on July 14, 1998, in Akubpur village under Akubpur Union of Muradnagar Upazila, Comilla. 

He completed his SSC from Hossain Ali High School in Nakhalpara, Tejgaon, Dhaka. He is a former student of Adamjee Cantonment College, where he served as a platoon sergeant for the BNCC club. 

He is currently enrolled in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Dhaka (2017-18 session).

Asif was also active in the 2018 Quota Reform Movement and later entered politics through the Student Rights Council. 

In 2023, he was elected President of the Dhaka University chapter of the Student Rights Council during its first conference. 

However, citing violations of the organization‍‍`s constitution, Asif and the entire Dhaka University committee resigned. 

Following this, on October 4, 2023, Asif became the convener of the Dhaka University branch of the newly-formed Democratic Student Power.

Currently, Asif Mahmud serves as an advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, a position he was appointed to on August 8, 2024. 

On August 9, he took on the role of advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and by August 16, 2024, he was appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Employment.

The Comilla-3 constituency has long been considered a stronghold for the BNP, primarily due to the unchallenged influence of its candidate, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad. 

Though Awami League candidates have managed to win in the past, local leaders acknowledge that BNP‍‍`s backing played a significant role in those victories. 

Therefore, Asif Mahmud will face a challenging battle to secure a win in this historically BNP-dominated constituency.