The leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, who led the July Uprising, have formed a new political party called the National Citizens’ Party (NCP).
The party has been established with Nahid Islam as the Convener and Akhtar Hossain as the Member Secretary, while Sarjis Alam, a familiar face from the July Uprising, has been appointed as the Chief Organizer (Northern Region).
It is widely speculated that the top leaders of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) will contest in the upcoming national parliamentary elections.
Among them, Sarjis Alam is expected to be one of the candidates.
He has already indicated during a public meeting in Panchagarh that if the people want, he will run in the election.
Panchagarh 1 Constituency
Sarjis Alam`s likely constituency is Panchagarh 1, which comprises Panchagarh Sadar Upazila, Tetulia Upazila, and Atwari Upazila of the Panchagarh district.
This constituency is known to be a stronghold of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). During BNP’s rule, both Speakers of Parliament came from this constituency.
Being a border area, politics in this region has always held significant importance, especially with the renewed focus on the Teesta River Agreement, which has once again stirred up political discourse.
Sarjis Alam’s Likely Rival
Barrister Naoshad Zamir, a potential BNP candidate, is expected to be Sarjis Alam’s main rival. Barrister Zamir previously contested this seat for BNP in the 2018 elections.
He is also the son of Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, a founding member of BNP and former Acting President of Bangladesh. Barrister Sircar won elections from this seat in both 1996 and 2001 and also served as the Speaker of the National Parliament.
Given that many Awami League leaders and activists are currently in hiding, and with no significant divisions within BNP in this constituency, Sarjis Alam is expected to be the most formidable challenger in the upcoming election.
Past Election Winners
In the 2022 election for Panchagarh 1, a total of 436,926 voters participated. Since BNP did not participate in this election, Awami League candidate Naimuzzaman Bhuiyan Mukta won by a landslide, securing 124,472 votes.
His closest rival, independent candidate and Awami League leader Anwar Sadat Samrat, received 57,210 votes.
However, the scenario was quite different in the 2018 11th National Parliamentary Elections. Barrister Naoshad Zamir contested for BNP that year, although Awami League candidate Mazharul Haque Pradhan won with 173,888 votes.
Naoshad Zamir, on the other hand, secured 133,539 votes. BNP rejected the election results, citing rigging allegations.
In 2014, when BNP boycotted the elections, JASAD leader Nazmul Haque Pradhan won the seat with 46,155 votes, defeating his closest rival, Jatiya Party candidate Abu Saleque, who received 37,908 votes.
In the 2008 9th National Parliamentary Elections, Awami League candidate Mazharul Haque Pradhan won with 156,550 votes.
His nearest competitor, BNP candidate Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarkar, garnered 107,725 votes.
Earlier, Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarkar had won the 2001 8th National Parliamentary Elections with 81,702 votes, defeating Awami League candidate Nurul Islam Sujan, who received 70,164 votes.
Since then, Nurul Islam Sujan has been contesting from Panchagarh 2 constituency.
Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarkar also triumphed in the 1996 election, securing 57,433 votes, while Nurul Islam Sujan received 48,012 votes.
In the 5th National Parliamentary Elections in 1991, BNP candidate Mirza Golam Hafiz won with 48,678 votes.
He later served as the Speaker of the National Parliament. His closest competitor, Awami League candidate Sirajul Islam, received 38,608 votes.
Profile of Sarjis Alam
Sarjis Alam was born on July 2, 1998, in Atwari Upazila of Panchagarh district.
He completed his HSC from BAF Shaheen College, Dhaka, and later pursued his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Zoology at the University of Dhaka, starting in 2017.
Sarjis won the post of member in the Amar Ekushey Hall Parliament at DUCSU elections, contesting from the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) panel.
He also actively participated in several debate competitions at various levels.
Sarjis was directly involved in Chhatra League politics on campus.
He was one of the main coordinators and leaders of the Quota Reform Movement and the former General Secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation.
Currently, he serves as the Chief Organizer of the Central Convening Committee of the National Citizens` Party.
Sarjis was also a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Considering the overall political scenario, it is clear that familiar faces in the upcoming elections will include JASAD General Secretary Nazmul Haque Pradhan, BNP Standing Committee’s International Affairs Secretary Barrister Naoshad Zamir, and Sarjis Alam, the leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
However, local observers predict that the main battle will likely be between Naoshad Zamir and Sarjis Alam.
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