# Leaders of Banned Awami League Seek Votes for Dhanner Sheesh in Madaripur-1 Using ‘জয় বাংলা, জয় বঙ্গবন্ধু’ Slogan

> In Madaripur-1 (Shibchar), at least 20 former Awami League leaders, long in hiding, attended a BNP candidate Nadira Akter’s courtyard meeting, supporting her campaign and urging votes for Dhanner Sheesh under the slogan…

Published: 2026-02-05 · Desk: Latest · Source: Prothom Alo

In Madaripur-1 (Shibchar), at least 20 controversial leaders of the banned Awami League, long in hiding, attended a BNP candidate’s public meeting. They showed support for BNP candidate Nadira Akter and campaigned for votes under the slogan “জয় বাংলা, জয় বঙ্গবন্ধু” at a courtyard meeting held Tuesday evening at Khan Bari in Shibchar municipality.

The Awami League leaders claimed they were acting on instructions from former Chief Whip Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton to support the BNP candidate. Their participation has sparked debate and discussion in local politics.

According to BNP sources, Shibchar has historically been an Awami League stronghold. Many current and former local representatives are followers of the former MP and Chief Whip Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton. With his approval, Awami League leaders in hiding have been openly participating in BNP’s courtyard meetings, helping Nadira Akter gain an edge over her two “rebel” rivals.

Since Monday, Nadira Akter has been holding courtyard meetings with these Awami League leaders. The Tuesday evening gathering at Khan Bari saw a large turnout, including leaders from both BNP and Awami League.

The meeting was chaired by Hemaayet Hossain Khan, senior joint convener of Shibchar BNP, and attended by Upazila BNP convener Shahadat Hossain Khan, joint convener Zaheer Gomosta, member Abu Zafar Chowdhury, municipal BNP secretary Azmal Khan, and leaders of allied organizations. The event was coordinated by Upazila BNP secretary Sohel Rana.

Several Awami League leaders spoke in support of the BNP candidate, including former Shibchar Upazila Awami League president and ex-mayor Awlad Hossain Khan, Kathal Bari Union Awami League president and former Upazila vice-chairman BM Atahar Bapari, Shibchar Upazila Jubo League president Ilyas Pasha, Char Janajat Union Parishad chairman Jahangir Hossain Raihan, Kathal Bari Union chairman Mohsin Uddin, Bahertala North Union chairman Zakir Hossain Haider, Madborchar Union Parishad chairman Fazlu Munshi, Banshkandi Union chairman Asaduzzaman Khokon Bayati, Kutubpur Union chairman Haji Atikur Madbor, and other local Awami League leaders and former municipal councillors.

At the meeting, former councillor and Awami League leader Aktar Hossain Khan gave a three-minute speech in support of the BNP candidate, concluding with the slogan “জয় বাংলা, জয় বঙ্গবন্ধু” and pledging to work for her campaign.

Addressing the crowd, Nadira Akter said: “Our future leader has said ‘Bangladesh first.’ So we will say Shibchar first. We must move forward unitedly and ensure BNP’s victory. Without unity, we cannot achieve our hopes and ambitions. It doesn’t matter which party someone belongs to—what matters is that we are all human.” She further promised that no false cases would be filed in Shibchar in the future, and no Awami League leaders would face harassment after the election. “If we remain united, developing Shibchar into a modern area will not be difficult,” she added.

Shibchar Upazila BNP convener Shahadat Hossain Khan told Prothom Alo that the Awami League leaders attended to support the BNP candidate, and no party was being “rehabilitated” through this process.

Originally, the BNP had nominated Shibchar Upazila BNP member Kamal Jaman Molla for Madaripur-1. However, after complaints from supporters of Sazzad Hossain Siddiqui over his nomination, the party suspended Molla’s nomination and later selected Nadira Akter, a district BNP member and joint convener of Shibchar Upazila BNP, as its candidate.

Recently, the central BNP committee expelled 10 Upazila BNP leaders, including the two rebel candidates of this constituency. After their expulsion, these two rebel candidates also gained support from Awami League leaders. For instance, at a courtyard meeting for independent candidate Kamal Jaman Molla, Shibchar Awami League president and former Upazila chairman Abdul Latif Molla and Shibchar municipal Awami League president Tota Khan publicly apologized for past mistakes.

Original reporting: https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/pu1sdhkt8t?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign&utm_content=ap_7v0cuqa33f&fbclid=IwY2xjawPxKVZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0ckw1N0ZVVjgzTHQxZnAyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpGnGSBwc6E83fL3HZXchSWOj4J-KR9iQkEAxFflVYft7e_yHOFsNpSyGsQx_aem_-Hyl_Yz6XUF5GdHVOG0v_A
HTML: https://tezzfeed.com/latest-news/leaders-of-banned-awami-league-seek-votes-for-dhanner-sheesh-in-madaripur-1-using-slogan-1770277756629
Bangladesh desk: https://tezzfeed.com/bangladeshi-news.md
Agent map: https://tezzfeed.com/llms.txt