Which constituency will Hasnat Abdullah contest from?

Hasnat Abdullah, a well-known figure as a frontline fighter in the July Uprising, has gained significant recognition. 

He played crucial roles, including organizing protests at Dhaka University, being besieged at the Detective Branch (DB) office, and holding press briefings during the internet blockade to continue the movement. 

He also became a subject of both praise and criticism for organizing various programs post-uprising. 

However, overall, his daring actions earned him admiration. Based on this, it has been reported that he will contest the election from Cumilla-4 constituency on behalf of a political party.

An Overview of Cumilla-4

Cumilla-4 constituency currently comprises Debidwar Upazila in Cumilla. From 1991, BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi was elected three consecutive times from this constituency. 

However, in the 2008 election, Majeda Ahsan contested on behalf of the BNP but was defeated. Currently, Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s son, Rizvi Ul Ahsan Munshi, is leading the nomination race. 

As a result, it is expected that Hasnat Abdullah will face Rizvi Ul Munshi in the election. Aside from BNP and Awami League candidates, independent candidates have been elected twice in this constituency, although they were Awami League leaders. 

In the last 2024 election, independent candidate Abul Kalam Azad was elected. He was the organizational secretary of Cumilla North District Awami League.

Since 1991, four different candidates have served this constituency over four elections. BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi was elected for three consecutive terms. 

In the upcoming election, his son, Rizvi Ul Munshi, is running a strong campaign. In 2014, independent candidate Raji Mohammad Fakhrul was elected from this constituency with the ‘elephant’ symbol. 

He later ran as an Awami League candidate in 2018 and was elected. In the 2024 election, independent candidate Abul Kalam Azad was elected again.

Previous Election Results in Cumilla-4

In the 2024 election, there were 375,991 registered voters. Even though BNP did not participate in this election, independent candidate and Awami League leader Md. Abul Kalam Azad, with the ‘eagle’ symbol, secured 96,807 votes. 

His nearest competitor, the ‘boat’ candidate and two-time Member of Parliament, Raji Mohammad Fakhrul, received 81,257 votes. 

In the 2018 11th National Parliamentary Election, Awami League candidate Raji Md. Fakhrul won with 240,544 votes, while his rival, JSD’s General Secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, secured 7,958 votes with the ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol. 

In the 2014 election, when BNP did not participate, Raji Mohammad Fakhrul was elected as an independent candidate with the ‘elephant’ symbol, receiving 32,803 votes. His nearest rival, Iqbal Hossain Raju, with the ‘plow’ symbol, got 28,536 votes.

In the 2008 9th National Parliamentary Election, Awami League’s candidate ABM Golam Mostafa received 115,057 votes, while BNP’s candidate Majeda Ahsan received 81,665 votes. 

Before that, in the 2001 8th National Parliamentary Election, BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi was elected for the third consecutive term, securing 92,329 votes. His closest rival, Awami League’s candidate AFM Fakhrul Islam Munshi, received 58,877 votes. Fakhrul Munshi had previously been elected from the Jatiya Party. 

In the 1996 election, BNP’s Manjurul Ahsan Munshi was re-elected, receiving 46,135 votes, while his nearest rival, ‘plow’ candidate ABM Golam Mostafa, received 39,209 votes.

In the 1991 5th National Parliamentary Election, BNP’s Manjurul Ahsan Munshi won with 27,139 votes. His nearest rival, NAP-Mozzaffar party leader Mozaffar Ahmed, received 26,299 votes.

Brief Biography of Hasnat Abdullah

Hasnat Abdullah passed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in 2014 from the Science department of Debidwar Government Reaz Uddin Pilot Model High School in Cumilla’s Debidwar Thana. 

He completed his Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) in the Science department from Paruara Abdul Matin Khasru College. In the 2016-17 academic year, he enrolled in the Department of English at the University of Dhaka.

As a protester, Hasnat Abdullah held an 8-point demand hunger strike and sit-in program in front of the Registrar Building at Dhaka University in 2022 to alleviate public grievances. 

Currently, he is serving as the Chief Organizer (Southern Region) of the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP).

During his student life, although he was involved in Chhatra League politics, he became a subject of discussion when he opposed Sheikh Hasina while wearing the same political jersey. On October 12, 2024, he got married.

Cumilla-4 Constituency Overview

Cumilla-4 constituency had long been dominated by BNP’s Manjurul Ahsan Munshi. 

However, after BNP fielded different candidates, they could not replicate his success. 

Meanwhile, internal conflicts and divisions within Awami League politics, along with leaders being part of Baharuddin Bahar‍‍`s circle, have led to Awami League leaders contesting independently and getting elected.

Currently, Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s son, Rizvi Ul Ahsan Munshi, is leading the nomination race. This young leader has already participated in various BNP rallies and is focused on numerous campaigns and charitable works. 

Hence, Hasnat Abdullah faces a challenging test in the upcoming election in Cumilla-4.