Jamaat and Khilafat Majlis candidates withdraw from Dinajpur-5 race

Candidates from Jamaat-e-Islami and Khilafat Majlis have withdrawn their nominations from the Dinajpur-5 (Phulbari–Parbatipur) constituency, narrowing the race to seven contenders, including two BNP rebel candidates.

Jamaat candidate Anwar Hossain and Khilafat Majlis candidate Abdul Quader Chowdhury withdrew their nominations on Tuesday (January 20), the final day for withdrawal. Both later expressed support for the National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate as part of an alliance arrangement. The withdrawals were confirmed by Fulbari Upazila Election Officer Abdus Samad.

Election symbols were allocated on Wednesday, after which seven candidates formally entered the contest.

A total of 10 candidates had initially submitted nomination papers for Dinajpur-5. The nomination of Aam Janata Party candidate Ibrahim Ali Mandal was cancelled due to loan default. Following the withdrawal of the Jamaat and Khilafat Majlis candidates, seven candidates remain in the race.

Barrister AKM Kamruzzaman is contesting as the alliance-backed candidate, including BNP, with the paddy sheaf symbol. NCP leader Dr Abdul Ahad is contesting as the 10-party alliance candidate with the Shapla Kali symbol. Jatiya Party candidate Kazi Abdul Gafur, president of Parbatipur Upazila Jatiya Party, is running with the plough symbol.

Among the independent candidates, lecturer Rostam Ali is contesting with the motorcycle symbol, while Advocate Hazrat Ali Belal is running with the deer symbol.

Two BNP rebel candidates are also in the race. BNP central executive committee member AZM Rezwanul Haque is contesting with the lock symbol, and Parbatipur Upazila BNP member SM Zakaria Bachchu is contesting with the pitcher symbol.

Dinajpur-5 constituency comprises two municipalities and 17 unions, with a total of 471,220 voters. Of them, 235,030 are male, 236,187 are female, and three are transgender voters.

In Phulbari Upazila, there are 156,210 voters across one municipality and seven unions, including 77,896 male voters, 78,613 female voters and one transgender voter. Parbatipur Upazila has 314,710 voters in one municipality and 10 unions, with 157,134 male voters, 157,574 female voters and two transgender voters.