DHAKA, Jan 6, 2024 (BSS)- A number of candidates who are directly involved in

the country's sports fraternity is taking part in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad
(JS) elections tomorrow (Sunday) across the country.

Most of them are contesting in the election from ruling Awami League with
boat symbol while some are there to make difference as independent
candidates.
 
Shakib Al Hasan, Magura-1

Shakib Al Hasan, unarguably the best ever cricketers that the country have
ever produced, generated huge enthusiasm amongst the candidates with sports
background who are contesting in this election. He was initially criticized
for joining active politics while still a player but he withstood it. Like
the way he weathered any criticism in the sports field with his landmark
performance, his relentless and innovative campaign proved made him a stand
out player in politics also. Shakib was nominated by the Awami League for
Magura-1 constituency. He, however, is expected to win his maiden election.

Mashrafe Bin Mortza, Narail-2

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the most successful captain of the national cricket
team participated in the 2018 elections and was elected as a member of
parliament. Since then, he has been praised for doing various developmental
works in the parliamentary area. So, this time also he has been nominated by
the ruling Awami League for Narail-2 constituency. Because of his huge
popularity, there is no one to challenge him in this election. There was one
as an independent candidate. But senior Awami League leader Syed Faizul Amir
Litu withdrew from the election on Wednesday by supporting Mashrafe. As a
result, it is clear that Mashrafe will become an MP for the second time from
Narail-2.

Zahid Ahsan Russell, Gazipur-2

Although he is from a political family, Zahid Ahsan Russell has a long
association with sports. In the 2008 national parliament election, he was
elected as a member of parliament from Awami League for the first time. In
that sequence, he won the 10th and 11th parliamentary elections with the boat
symbol. After serving as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee
on Youth and Sports Ministry for 10 consecutive years, he was made Minister
of State for Youth and Sports Ministry in 2018. This time also Russell is in
the election field with the boat symbol.

Nazmul Hassan Papon, Kishoreganj-6

Nazmul Hassan Papon is son of former President Zillur Rahman, but he gained
reputation as a successful sports organiser, particularly as the president of
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He is the incumbent president of BCB after
winning its elections for third straight time. While Zillur Rahman was
elected as the country's 19th President, Nazmul Hassan was elected unopposed
by participating in the by-election in the seat vacated by his father in
2009. He became a Member of Parliament from the same constituency in the next
two terms. This time also the ruling Awami League has put confidence in him.
Nazmul Hasan is involved in the pharmaceutical industry management profession
and was the first elected president of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). During
his tenure, Bangladesh Cricket Board has made a lot of economic progress.
 
Abdus Salam Murshedi, Khulna-4

Considered as one of the greatest footballers of the country has ever
produced, Abdus Salam Murshedi has already made a stranglehold in politics
also.

He came into active politics in 2018. He won the national election for
Bangladesh Awami League in Khulna-4 constituency. This time too he is
contesting with the boat symbol. However, this time SM Mortaza Rashidi Dara,
a well-known face of Khulna sports, is on the field to challenge him. There
are nine other candidates. Dara, with the kettle symbol, is in fact the main
rival of four-time senior vice-president of the Football Federation Salam
Murshedi.

Salman F. Rahman, Dhaka-1

Salman Fazlur Rahman is better known for other identities than sports
identity. He is the co-founder of Beximco Group, one of the largest
industrial conglomerates in the country. He is one of the richest people in
the country. He has been in the arena of politics for a long time serving as
an adviser on private industry and investment to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
for many years. After entering politics in 1990, he participated in the
elections for the first time from Dhaka-1 constituency for the Awami League
in 2001 elections. He has been associated with Abahani Limited, a club found
by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's elder son Sheikh
Kamal as its chairman.
 
Besides, his business organisation has been sponsoring various sports for a
long time. This time too, the veteran sports organiser is contesting in
Dhaka-1 constituency with the boat symbol.

Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul, Manikganj-2

Singer Momtaz Begum has been the MP of Manikganj-2 Constituency twice. There
are several heavyweight independent candidates in the electoral field to
challenge him. One of them is the former captain of the national football
team and the former sports secretary of Awami League, Dewan Shafiul Arefin
Tutul. The former football star who won the national sports award has
achieved success as an organiser. He also was a director of the Bangladesh
Cricket Board (BCB).
 
Arif Khan Joy, Netrokona-2

Arif Khan Joy, the former captain of the Bangladesh national football team
and former deputy minister of youth and sports, is contesting as an
independent candidate in the Netrokona-2. In 2014, he was made deputy
minister after being elected as a member of parliament from the same
constituency with the ruling Awami League's boat symbol. He did not get the
party nomination the next time. This time too he wanted the boat symbol.
However, instead of giving it to him, the Awami League gave the party symbol
to the current Member of Parliament and State Minister for Social Welfare,
Ashraf Ali Khan Khosru. He is in the election field to challenge Khosru with
the eagle symbol.

Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Jessore-3

Kazi Nabil Ahmed has been the vice-president of Bangladesh Football
Federation for four consecutive times. More than that, he is the acting
director in charge of Abahani Limited. As the eldest son of the late Kazi
Shahed Ahmed who took the lead in Abahani's troubled times, his association
with the sport has been for a long time. Nabil, who is associated with Awami
politics because of his father, was elected Member of Parliament for Jessore-
3 Constituency in the 10th National Parliament Elections in 2014 with the
boat symbol. Nabil became an MP again in 2018. So, Awami League has trusted
him this time too. He has to fight against multiple candidates to become an
MP for the third time in a row.
 
Ataur Rahman Bhuiya Manik, Noakhali-2

Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik wanted to become an MP from Noakhali-2. However,
Awami League did not nominate him for this seat. Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik,
the leader of Tama group, is in the election as an independent candidate with
the scissors symbol. His association with sports especially football
federations is not long. However, Manik has been working on football
development since being elected vice-president in 2020.

Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Moulvibazar-2

The well-known face of Sylhet's sports arena, Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel,
head of the women's wing of the BCB is contesting in Moulvibazar-2 with boat
symbol. In 2019, Nadel, a former BCL leader was made the organising secretary
of the Central Committee of Awami League. He also held the position in the
2022 council. He has to fight with independent candidate Safi Ahmad Salman
and Trinamool BNP candidate former MP MM Shaheen.

 
Hasanul Haque Inu, Kushtia-2

Hasanul Haque Inu gained fame as the goalkeeper of Mohammedan Sporting Club
of the then East Pakistan in the 60's. He played for Central Printing and
Stationery Club, East End Club, Wari Club and lastly Dhaka Mohammedan
Sporting Club in the Dhaka First Division Football League from 1965-70. In
1966, as a member of the Pakistan sports team, he participated in the Pak-
German sports competition and took third place in the high jump. In 1969, he
participated in the All-Pakistan National Competition in Lahore as a member
of the combined East Pakistan University football team. Played as a member of
East Pakistan Youth Football Team in 1969-70, the JSD president and also the
former information minister is running this time as a coalition partner of
Awami League like the previous three times.