Rangpur: Rangpur-1 parliamentary constituency, comprising Gangachara Upazila and wards 1 to 9 of Rangpur City Corporation, is gearing up for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the constituency has a total of 3,71,970 voters, with 1,86,337 male voters, 1,85,629 female voters, and two third gender voters. Additionally, there are 3,245 postal voters, and the constituency will have 139 polling centres.
Rangpur Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Enamul Ahsan has allocated party symbols to six candidates contesting in the elections. The candidates include Jatiya Party’s Barrister Manjum Ali (plough), BNP’s Mukarram Hossain Sujan (paddy sheaf), and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Raihan Siraji (scale). Other candidates are Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) candidate Ahsanul Arefin (scissors), Islami Front Bangladesh’s Md. Anas (chair), and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s ATM Golam Mostafa (hand-fan).
In an interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Raihan Siraji, the candidate from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, outlined his election promises. His primary goal is to ensure basic human rights for the people of Gangachara. He emphasized improving education quality, creating employment opportunities for unemployed youths, ensuring fair prices for farmers’ produce, and providing healthcare at people’s doorsteps. Siraji expressed his vision of making Gangachara a model upazila.
Raihan Siraji stressed the importance of adhering to the election code of conduct, advocating for peaceful campaigning, discipline, and legality. He instructed his leaders and workers to maintain modesty and patience while campaigning. On the topic of the referendum on the July Charter, Siraji acknowledged the significance of referendums in democracy and expressed commitment to following party instructions.
Siraji also highlighted the importance of voting rights as a constitutional entitlement. He expressed hope for a free, fair, and impartial election, underscoring that the people’s mandate should be respected and reflected in the electoral outcome.