Dhaka/Pabna, Dec 24 (V7N) — Alhaj Md. Hasanul Islam Raja, a central committee adviser of the Bangladesh Nationalist Cultural Party and a long-time BNP activist, has decided to contest the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election from the Pabna-3 constituency under the “Truck” symbol of Gano Odhikar Parishad (GOP) after being denied the BNP’s electoral nomination.

On Monday (December 22) at around 9:00 pm, Raja officially collected the party nomination form from the central office of Gano Odhikar Parishad in Dhaka. Gano Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Noor (VP Noor), party spokesperson Faruk Hasan, and other senior leaders were present at the time.

Former president of the Gano Odhikar Parishad Chatmohar Upazila unit, Sohanur Rahman Sad, confirmed that Alhaj Md. Hasanul Islam Raja will contest the election as an MP candidate from Pabna-3, which comprises Chatmohar, Bhangura, and Faridpur upazilas.

According to party sources, following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, Raja actively campaigned in favor of the BNP’s “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol, conducting extensive grassroots outreach across the constituency. During this period, he also took a strong public stance against bribery, corruption, irregularities, extortion, criminal activities, and illegal land grabbing, drawing significant local attention.

However, after the BNP centrally nominated Krishibid Hasan Zafar Tuhin, president of the party’s central Krishak Dal, as the BNP candidate for Pabna-3, Raja launched a public movement demanding local candidacy. Despite repeated appeals within the party, the BNP ultimately denied him the nomination, prompting Raja to pursue an alternative political path.

In the meantime, Raja has also collected nomination papers as an independent candidate from the Assistant Returning Officer and Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Musa Naser Chowdhury.

Raja previously contested the 2018 national parliamentary election from Pabna-3 as an independent rebel candidate under the “Lion” symbol, securing nearly 7,000 votes. Political analysts believe that his decision to contest under a different party banner has created a new political equation in the constituency and may further complicate the electoral dynamics of Pabna-3.

Repeated attempts to contact Hasanul Islam Raja by phone for comments were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered. However, a close associate said Raja opted to contest under a party symbol amid concerns that his nomination could be cancelled during scrutiny if he ran as an independent or rebel candidate.

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