Electoral Scenario in 19 Seats of Sylhet Division: Attention on BNP–Jamaat Battle

Jan 30, 2026
Politics

Illustrative Image: BNP (left), Jamaat (right) (collected)

PNN News Desk, Sylhet

With the upcoming national elections approaching, the election atmosphere has begun to stir across Sylhet Division. From the city to surrounding upazilas, voter interest is being observed almost everywhere. Many voters have said that, unlike in previous elections where the voting environment was not conducive, this time they hope to vote peacefully.

Selina Akter, a businesswoman from Jailkhana Mor, Sylhet city, said that who wins is not the main point; voting itself is important as a civic duty. According to her, while individuals must bear responsibility for their livelihood, they should take advantage of the opportunity to vote when it is available. A similar sentiment is observed among young voters. Suborna Deb, a student at Leading University, said she will vote for the first time this election—and the feeling brings her joy.

Sylhet Division has a total of 19 parliamentary seats across four districts. Political analysts note that the main contest in most seats will be between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. However, internal disputes over BNP nominations and the presence of several rebel candidates in multiple constituencies have become a major concern for the party.

Local party leaders have reported dissatisfaction over candidate selection in several Sylhet constituencies. In some cases, there is resistance to accepting expatriate candidates; elsewhere, candidates have run independently after not receiving their desired nomination, raising questions about party unity. Although party leaders publicly speak of unity, doubts remain about how active supporters will be in practice.

Meanwhile, for Jamaat-e-Islami, coalition politics has also become a significant challenge. Historically, the party did not achieve major success in Sylhet Division, but recent political changes suggest they have strengthened, according to locals. However, due to the coalition, in several promising constituencies the party lacks its own candidates, causing frustration among Jamaat leaders and workers. They argue that contesting independently in some constituencies could have produced different results.

Analysts believe that election outcomes in Sylhet Division will largely depend on how internal party disputes are managed in the final phase and how effectively coalition candidates mobilize their supporters. Although most voters are preparing to go to the polling stations, which symbol will receive their votes is expected to become clearer in the final campaign stage.