Ex-Shibir president steps aside, wishes Nahid success in Dhaka-11

The Chronify

December 29, 2025

Jamaat-nominated candidate Atikur Rahman has stepped aside from the Dhaka-11 race, extending best wishes to NCP convenor Nahid Islam. Sources say Nahid Islam has been named the final candidate following a seat-sharing understanding between Jamaat and the NCP.

Jamaat-nominated candidate Atikur Rahman, a former central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir and current secretary general of the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation, has stepped aside from contesting the Dhaka-11 constituency and extended his best wishes to Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP).

Sources said Nahid Islam has been declared the final candidate for Dhaka-11 (Rampura–Badda–Vatara–part of Hatirjheel) following an electoral understanding between Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the NCP.

Following the seat-sharing arrangement, Atikur Rahman on Monday posted a message on social media congratulating Nahid Islam and announcing that he had been relieved of campaign and organisational responsibilities. “Best wishes to Nahid Islam for the Dhaka-11 seat. Alhamdulillah,” he wrote.

In a longer post, Atikur Rahman said that since February 6, acting on the organisation’s decision, he had worked to build public opinion in favour of the Islamic movement in the Dhaka-11 constituency, setting aside personal, family, and professional commitments. He claimed that sustained grassroots efforts helped generate widespread support for Jamaat-e-Islami and its ‘scale’ election symbol, reflected in recent surveys.

He expressed gratitude to residents of the constituency for their support and thanked party colleagues and volunteers for their sacrifices, including long nights of campaigning and poster distribution. Atikur Rahman also acknowledged the role of women activists, saying their contributions were vital in shaping public opinion.

Reaffirming loyalty to organisational decisions, he said all involved would now work together toward building what he described as an “Insaaf (just) Bangladesh.” He also sought forgiveness from anyone who may have been hurt by his actions, intentionally or otherwise, during the campaign.

The development underscores evolving political alignments ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election, particularly in key Dhaka constituencies.