Jamaat’s ‘Hindu candidate’? Businessman Krishna claims he was tipped off but party denies final decision

Businessman Krishna Nandi is the president of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hindu wing in Dumuria Upazila

Jamaat-e-Islami is in discussions to nominate a Hindu candidate in a religious minority-heavy constituency in Khulna for the 13th parliamentary elections.

Businessman Krishna Nandi, who serves as president of the Dumuria Upazila committee of Jamaat’s Hindu wing, claims he has been “informally signalled” to contest the election from Khulna-1 (Dacope-Batiaghata).

This comes even though the party had already nominated and publicly launched Sheikh Abu Yusuf, Jamaat’s Ameer in Batiaghata, as its candidate in that constituency. He has been actively campaigning.

Party leaders now say no final decision has been made regarding Nandi’s candidacy.

The issue has sparked intense debate in Dumuria, Dacope, and Batiaghata, particularly among political observers and the local Hindu community.

Nandi, widely considered close to Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, hails from Chuknagar in Dumuria, where he owns multiple businesses. He was once known as a confidant of Narayan Chandra Chanda, a former Awami League MP.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5 last year, Nandi joined Jamaat’s Dumuria unit and began participating in its election activities.

At a recent event in Dumuria, Nandi said: “I’ve been involved with Jamaat-e-Islami since 2007. I’ve stood by members in their difficult times. During the Awami League’s repression, I supported our activists. About 18 months ago, I became president of the Dumuria Hindu wing.”

Though Nandi is from Dumuria, discussions are under way to nominate him in the adjacent Dacope–Batiaghata (Khulna-1) seat, as Golam Porwar is the chosen candidate in Khulna-5 (Dumuria–Phultala).

But as of now, Sheikh Abu Yusuf is Jamaat’s announced candidate for Khulna-1 and has been campaigning on the party’s scales election symbol.

DEBATE OVER NON-MUSLIM CANDIDATES

Jamaat’s rules typically require candidates to be at least a “Rukon” (full member), but internal discussions have begun on whether non-Muslims can be nominated under “changed circumstances”.

Munsi Mizanur Rahman Mizan, a central Majlis-e-Shura member and Jamaat’s Khulna district secretary, told bdnews24.com: “A decision was made around the 15th or 16th November to nominate Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and indigenous candidates in certain constituencies. There have been some discussions about Krishna Nandi, but an official candidate has already been announced. That said, the party reserves the right to change its candidate.”

Krishna Nandi also claims to have received a positive signal from the party. “I’ve been somewhat confirmed by the party for Khulna-1. If they announce me, I’ll contest. I’m preparing, and will enter the campaign once the party formally introduces me,” he said.

When asked about running in a constituency where he does not reside, Nandi added that his extended family lives there.

Meanwhile, Abu Yusuf, the officially announced Jamaat candidate for Khulna-1, told bdnews24.com: “I’ve been campaigning since my name was announced. I haven’t received any update about a candidate change. If the party replaces me, that’s their decision. But I don’t know if anyone else has been finalised.”

A MINORITY-MAJORITY CONSTITUENCY

Khulna-1 is notable for its large Hindu population. Jamaat last contested here in 1996, with Abu Yusuf receiving only 2,308 votes, or about 2 percent of the total.

The seat has been held by Awami League candidates in every election since 1991, except for the controversial Feb 15, 1996 election.

Jamaat leaders said fielding a Hindu candidate could be a strategic move, particularly with the Awami League currently under political restrictions.

Dacope is Bangladesh’s only Hindu-majority Upazila, with 54.44 percent Hindu, 43.43 percent Muslim, and 2.12 percent Christian populations. In Batiaghata, Hindus make up 27.56 percent.

In the past, the seat has consistently gone to Hindu candidates:

• 1973: Kubera Chandra Biswas

• 1979: Prafulla Kumar Shil

• 1996 (Feb 15): BNP’s Prafulla Kumar Mondal

• 1996 (June): Sheikh Hasina won, later vacated

• 1996 (By-election): Independent Panchanan Biswas wins

• 2001: Panchanan wins again for Awami League

• 2008: Nani Gopal Mondal (Awami League)

• 2014, 2018: Panchanan Biswas (Awami League)

• 2024: Nani Gopal Mondal again

MIXED POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Jamaat’s organisational activity has increased in recent months. In Khulna-1, BNP’s former district convener Amir Ejaz Khan is actively campaigning, alongside other aspirants, including:

• Ziaur Rahman (Papul) – former DU Chhatra Dal leader

• Partha Dev Mandal – former DU student leader

• Kishore Kumar Roy – ex-vice chairman, Dacope Upazila Parishad, aligned with the Left Democratic Alliance

Jamaat’s Secretary General Porwar said: “Many from Hindu, tribal, and other minority communities have approached us to represent their groups. This includes people from Khulna, Kishoreganj, and other districts. Krishna Nandi’s name has come up from Khulna. The party leadership, including the Ameer, is considering it. But no decision has been finalised.”