Ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, the Chattogram-8 constituency (Chandgaon–part of Boalkhali) has emerged as one of the most sensitive testing grounds of 11-party coalition politics.
Under the central decision of the 11-party alliance, the Chattogram-8 seat was allocated to the NCP. A symbolic display of that decision was seen when Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman personally handed over the shapla bud symbol to NCP leader Zobairul Hasan Arif.
It is learnt that Arif did not take part in any public outreach for eight consecutive days and was not even seen at the Jamaat ameer’s rally in Chattogram on 2 February. At the party level, this was explained as loyalty to the coalition decision. Yet, despite this silence, the field was not left entirely vacant. At the local level, supporters of Abu Naser remained active, a presence that became more visible from 4 February.
Although Abu Naser, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Chattogram-8, holds the post of naib ameer of Boalkhali upazila, his influence in this constituency extends far beyond formal party rank. For nearly three decades, he has been associated with providing medical services to people in Chandgaon and Boalkhali, earning recognition as a physician leader. His involvement with several hospitals and healthcare institutions has given him broad social acceptance in the area.
Over the past year and a half, he has remained in close contact with voters through courtyard meetings, medical camps and social welfare activities. Political analysts say this sustained social presence has helped him build a strong personal base. As a result, while Jamaat’s organisational leaders have formally remained neutral in line with the coalition decision, his personal followers have been unwilling to accept it.
A major challenge for NCP candidate Zobairul Hasan Arif is his geographical and social distance from the constituency. His home is in Satkania upazila, around 50 kilometres away from the seat. He is a new face in the Chandgaon–Boalkhali area.
A further difficulty is the lack of internal unity. Sections of Jatiya Juboshokti and Chhatroshokti have openly opposed his nomination on social media. Their argument is that in a constituency with 554,729 voters, nominating an outsider instead of a locally known figure does not align with ground realities.
Several leaders of Chattogram Metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami admit that they have no formal objection to the coalition decision. At the same time, they acknowledge that it is difficult in practice to completely ignore the spontaneous public support enjoyed by Abu Naser.
Naser himself has highlighted this tension. He said that he stayed at home in deference to the coalition decision, but ordinary people with whom he had worked for years compelled him to return to the field.
Repeated attempts to contact NCP candidate Zobairul Hasan Arif for comment were unsuccessful. However, Manjurul Hasan, finance secretary of the Chattogram Metropolitan unit of Jatiya Juboshokti and regarded as close to Arif, told TIMES that the seat belongs to the NCP under the coalition agreement and there is no question of giving it up.
The outcome in Chattogram-8 now depends on three factors. First, how strictly Jamaat’s organisational machinery enforces the coalition decision at the final stage. Second, whether the NCP candidate can build party unity on the ground. Third, how effectively Abu Naser’s personal support base is converted into votes on polling day.
