With symbols allocated on January 21, the race for the 13th Parliamentary Election has reached a fever pitch in Porsha. Candidates and local leaders are conducting day-and-night mass rallies and door-to-door campaigns across Naogaon-1 (Sapahar-Porsha-Niamatpur) to secure voter support.
The constituency, home to 474,065 voters (including 112,766 in Porsha Upazila), is seeing a high-stakes contest among five candidates. The primary focus remains on Mustafizur Rahman, the official BNP candidate and General Secretary of Niamatpur Upazila BNP, and Dr. Salek Chowdhury, a former three-time BNP MP now running as an independent after being expelled from the party.
Official BNP candidate Mustafizur Rahman, supported by key local leaders like Taufiqur Rahman Chowdhury and Sadequl Islam, is campaigning on the "Paddy Sheaf" symbol. His rallies emphasize BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s "31-Point Reform Plan" for national governance. Local party leaders expressed confidence, citing significant infrastructure development during past BNP tenures as a primary reason for voter loyalty.
Independent candidate Dr. Salek Chowdhury is leveraging his past experience as a lawmaker, highlighting previous development projects to win over voters. Meanwhile, Principal Mahbubul Alam (Jamaat-e-Islami) and Maulana Abdul Haque Shah (Islami Andolan Bangladesh) are actively holding meetings, promising a shift toward value-based governance. Akbar Ali Kalu of the Jatiya Party is also maintaining a steady presence on the campaign trail.
As February 12 approaches, the "Stronghold of BNP" is witnessing a vibrant democratic display, with candidates competing to prove who can best serve the aspirations of Northern Bangladesh.
