Published : 13 Jan 2026, 02:52 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:01 PM
Two-time former lawmaker, freedom fighter and retired major Akhtaruzzaman has recently joined Jamaat-e-Islami, a move that has left many of his Liberation War–aligned supporters in Kishoreganj-2 disappointed, with some expressing open anger.
There had been speculation that Akhtaruzzaman joined Jamaat after failing to secure a BNP nomination and that he might seek election under the party’s symbol. But he is not taking part in the parliamentary polls.
Instead, his son Shahriar Zaman Rana has filed nomination papers from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, a partner in the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance.
Akhtaruzzaman’s elder brother, former lawmaker and freedom fighter Anisuzzaman Khokon, meanwhile, has entered the race as an independent candidate.
Jamaat has also fielded Maulana Shafiqul Islam Morol, a former vice-chairman of Katiadi Upazila Parishad, for the seat.
Nomination papers of both candidates have been declared valid in the constituency, which comprises the Katiadi and Pakundia Upazilas.
The presence of multiple contenders from the same family, each aligned with a different political platform, has generated widespread discussion and criticism across the area.
Local voters say Akhtaruzzaman, widely known as Major Ranjan, continues to hold sway in the constituency.
During his tenure as an MP, he oversaw development initiatives and later gained national visibility through television talk shows and social media.
Despite being expelled from the BNP on three occasions for remarks critical of the party’s top leadership, he remained active in political circles, making his continued relevance in local electoral debate ahead of the vote unsurprising.
