TDS Desk:

With about three dozen doctors set to contest the upcoming national election, doctors appear to constitute the largest group of professionals vying for seats in the parliament.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami boasts the highest number, with 17 physicians, of such nominees including party chief, Shafiqur Rahman, and a key deputy, Syed Abdullah Md Taher.

BNP has already nominated 12 doctors for the next parliamentary election, expected to be held in February next year.

Several more doctors are expected to join the race from other parties, including National Citizen Party (NCP) and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).

Most of the aspirants belong to doctors’ associations aligned with the respective parties, reflecting the growing influence of such bodies in national politics.

Top leaders of these associations had received nominations in previous elections, but this time, the number is much higher.

Awami League-backed Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip) dominated the health sector during the previous regime with several leaders contesting general elections on party tickets.

After the fall of the Awami League government in August last year following a people’s uprising, BNP-backed Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) and Jamaat-backed National Doctors Forum (NDF) began dominating the health sector. There are also the left-leaning Doctors for Health and Environment.

BNP on November 3 announced a list of 237 possible nominees. The following day, DAB issued a press release congratulating 11 members for being selected and asked other members to support them.

A DAB joint secretary general, however, said the number would be 12.

Of them, BNP standing committee member Prof AZM Zahid Hossain, also a former secretary general of DAB, will contest from Dinajpur-6.

ASM Rafiqul Islam Bachchu will run from Gazipur-3; Anwarul Haque from Netrokona-2; Prof Syed Mainul Hasan Sadik from Gaibandha-3; Mahbubur Rahman Litan from Mymensingh-7; KM Babar Ali from Gopalganj-2; Dewan Mohammad Salauddin from Dhaka-19; Sakhawat Hossain Jiban from Habiganj-2; Khandoker Ziaul Islam from Gaibandha-1, Sunsila Jabrin Priyanka from Sherpur-1, Ekramul Bari Tipu from Naogaon-4 and MA Muhit from Sirajganj-6.

Prof Abul Kenan, senior vice-president of DAB, also said while their members had contested in previous elections, the number is higher this year.

“The party [BNP] has nominated them in recognition of their contributions and their services in their respective communities,” he told on November 10.

Although Jamaat has not formally announced its list of candidates, the party has selected nominees for almost all constituencies.

An official of NDF said 17 doctors would run with Jamaat tickets and most of them are affiliated with their forum.

Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman will contest from Mirpur-15 while another key leader, Taher, will contest from Cumilla-11.

NDF’s general secretary Mahmud Hossain will contest from Shariatpur-2; Prof Col (retd) Zehad Khan from Kishoreganj-3; SM Khaliduzzaman from Dhaka-17; ATM Rezaul Karim from Chattogram-7; Muhammad Abu Naser from Chattogram-8; AKM Fazlul Haque from Chattogram-9; Faridul Alam from Chattogram-12; Shahdat Hossain from Chattogram-14; Prof Mohammad Jahangir from Rajshahi-2; Abdul Bari from Rajshahi-4; Sultan Ahmed from Barguna-2; Abu Bakar Siddique from Manikganj-2; Mosleh Uddin Farid from Jashore from-2; AKM Abdul Hamid from Tangail-8; and Abdur Rahman Sarkar from Gaibandha-5.

When asked AKM Ziaul Haque said, “We also think the number of doctors contesting the next election on Jamaat ticket is the highest compared to previous polls.”

At least three members of the leftist physicians’ forum will contest with CPB nomination.

MH Faruquee, vice-president of the organisation, said ASM Fazlur Rahman is expected to contest from Naogaon-4; Dibalok Singha from Netrokona-1; and Sajedul Huq Rubel from Dhaka-15.

“The number may increase,” he told this correspondent.

Meanwhile, at least two doctors are going to contest from NCP, sources said. Their number may also increase, they added.

NCP’s joint convener Tasnim Jara may run from Dhaka-9, while joint member secretary Mahmuda Mitu may run from a Barishal constituency. (Source: Daily Star)