Engineer Shahreen Islam Chowdhury Tuhin. Photo : BSS

NILPHAMARI, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - BNP candidate for Nilphamari-2 (Sadar) constituency in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election Engineer Shahreen Islam Chowdhury Tuhin has said he wants to transform Nilphamari into a modern district.

He emphasized industrial development along with improvements in education, healthcare, and the communication system to ensure the district’s overall progress. 

He said he wants to address unemployment by expanding the district’s key industrial enclave, the Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ), and creating employment opportunities.

Engineer Shahreen Islam Chowdhury Tuhin is a former Member of Parliament from Nilphamari-1 (Domar–Dimla) constituency.
 
He is a maternal cousin of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. He is also serving as the president of the Engineers’ Association of Bangladesh (EAB). 

Ahead of the upcoming election, he answered various questions in an interview with BSS Nilphamari district correspondent Bhubon Roy Nikhil. Following is the excerpts from the interview: 
BSS: What are your electoral promises to the voters of your constituency?
Shahreen Islam Chowdhury: I have no specific electoral promises.

 It is not possible to make promises under the electoral code of conduct. However, I have many aspirations, including transforming Nilphamari into a modern district and restructuring its education system. I want to establish a university here, make the medical college permanent and expand it, enlarge the nursing college, and establish better-quality schools and colleges so that our children do not have to leave Nilphamari town for education.

In addition, I will place greater emphasis on industry—expanding the EPZ (Uttara EPZ), making BEZA effective, and possibly establishing a BSCIC industrial estate. Through this, there is the possibility of addressing one of the country’s biggest problems—unemployment. Nilphamari has ample space where such initiatives can be implemented. There is also a plan to establish an agriculture-based processing zone.

Our infrastructure and road network are in very poor condition. Recreational facilities need to be created for children. There is a government-owned textile mill land here. We will consider how this land can be utilized—for example, whether an IT park can be established there. Using the existing infrastructure of the textile mill, we will consider providing broadband facilities and establishing an IT-related college or technology institute there, Insha’Allah.

BSS: What instructions have you given to party leaders and activists regarding compliance with the electoral code of conduct?
Shahreen Islam Chowdhury: We have formed a team of party lawyers. This team is guiding election committees in every union on issues related to the electoral code of conduct.

BSS: What is your position on the referendum regarding the July Charter?
Shahreen Islam Chowdhury: I will not have an individual position on this issue. My party has taken a position in favor of “Yes,” vote and I must stand by the party’s decision.

BSS: What are your expectations regarding the upcoming parliamentary election?
Shahreen Islam Chowdhury: My expectation is that a completely neutral and fair election will be held where there will be a level playing field for everyone. We do not want any uneven conditions. Every time a neutral election has been held in the country, BNP has emerged victorious. That is what we desire. We do not need any favor—our only demand is that neutrality be maintained for all.

Nilphamari-2 constituency, comprising the Sadar upazila, is one of the district’s four parliamentary constituencies. As such, it plays a very important role in the district’s overall development. The constituency includes 15 unions and one municipality of the Sadar upazila. It also hosts important installations of the northern region, including Uttara EPZ, a textile mill, a medical college, and various public and private institutions.

In the upcoming election, the total number of voters in the constituency is 385,785. Of them 192,753 are women, 193,030 are men, and two are from the third gender. Compared to the previous election, the number of voters has increased by 26,994. There are 135 polling centers.

Other candidates contesting the seat include Md. Al Faruk Abdul Latif of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Md. Hasibul Islam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Md. Sarwarul Alam Babu of Khelafat Majlis, and Md. Sirajul Islam of BNF.