Jamaat Leader stages major show of force in Sheikh Hasina’s constituency

In a move that has stirred the political waters of Gopalganj, Jamaat-e-Islami held a major rally in Kotalipara, a region long regarded as a stronghold of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League. 

The rally was organized by the district Amir of Jamaat, Professor Rezaul Karim, who is also the party‍‍`s potential candidate for the Gopalganj-3 (Kotalipara-Tungipara) seat in the upcoming national elections.

On Saturday morning, Jamaat activists and supporters gathered at Tupuria Bus Stand in Kotalipara to begin the rally. 

Motorcycles and private cars led the procession, which traversed the main roads of the 11 unions and one municipality in the area. 

The procession stopped at 14 significant locations for brief public meetings before culminating in a large gathering at the upazila grounds.

The rally was chaired by Kotalipara Jamaat Amir, Gazi Solaiman, and featured speeches from several senior leaders of the party, including Professor Rezaul Karim, district Amir Al Masud Khan, General Secretary Maulana Fariduddin Masud, and others such as Mizanur Rahman Howlader, Naib Amir of Kotalipara, and Munsur Ahmed, President of Kotalipara Municipal Jamaat.

Addressing the crowd, Professor Rezaul Karim spoke with resolve, “I am your son, your brother. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has chosen me as their candidate for Gopalganj-3 (Kotalipara-Tungipara). I have always been by your side, and I hope you will stand by me too. With your prayers and support, we aim to bring the Quran into the National Parliament. We want to live peacefully and harmoniously with everyone in this country.”

The district Jamaat leader also addressed the law enforcement officers present, urging them to exercise fairness. 

“In Gopalganj-3, there are no party lines. We are all brothers from Kotalipara-Tungipara. This is our identity. No one should be arrested or harassed unless they are known criminals,” he added.

The political climate in Gopalganj has been heating up since February 22 when Jamaat-e-Islami announced Professor Rezaul Karim as their official candidate for the Gopalganj-3 seat. 

This seat has historically been a stronghold for the Awami League, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina winning the seat for eight consecutive terms and serving as the Prime Minister five times.

In fact, the Prime Minister‍‍`s opponents in every election from this constituency have consistently lost their security deposits. 

However, the recent large-scale rally by Jamaat and the party’s political activities have caught the attention of voters and political analysts alike, sparking discussions about the potential for a surprising outcome in the upcoming election.

Political observers believe that if Awami League does not field a candidate in the Gopalganj-3 seat, Professor Rezaul Karim could possibly secure an unexpected victory, creating a major shift in the constituency‍‍`s political landscape.

The growing influence of Jamaat in this historically Awami League-dominated area has generated curiosity among voters, making it one of the key areas to watch in the upcoming elections.