Advocate Selim Akbar. Photo: BSS

CHANDPUR, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) – Gono Forum candidate for the Chandpur-3 (Sadar–Haimchar) constituency Advocate Selim Akbar has said that if elected, he would work to make Chandpur discrimination-free and create equal opportunities for every citizen. 

He made the remarks in an exclusive interview with BSS ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Selim Akbar, the Gono Forum-nominated candidate in Chandpur-3 (Sadar–Haimchar), has been involved in politics for nearly 35 years. He is a former president of the district Gono Forum and is currently a member of the party’s central presidium. By profession, he is a lawyer.

BSS Chandpur District Correspondent Abdus Salam Azad Jewel has interviewed him.

BSS: What are your election pledges for the voters of your constituency?

Selim Akbar: My first commitment is to eliminate discrimination. I want to work so that every citizen gets equal opportunities without any party consideration. I want to ensure that no one is deprived of opportunities due to partisan considerations. Especially in my constituency, stopping bribery, corruption, irregularities, extortion, and land grabbing is the primary goal of our party. I want to work toward building a discrimination-free Bangladesh at all levels, including parliament.
I want to ensure fair distribution of government allocations in the constituency. This is our main objective. I want to work transparently while maintaining accountability to the people.

BSS: What instructions have you given to your leaders and activists regarding compliance with the electoral code of conduct?

Selim Akbar: I and all my leaders and activists will strictly follow the instructions issued by the Election Commission. We have conducted our election campaign in compliance with the code of conduct and will continue to do so in the future.

BSS: What is your position about the referendum on the July Charter?

Selim Akbar: We are in favor of ‘yes’ vote in the referendum on the July Charter. However, it needed to be made clearer. The voters may become confused about casting a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote as the referendum has been organized on the same day of the parliamentary polls. Many may not even be able to cast their vote properly because there has not been detailed campaigning on this issue. People do not know why they should vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

We want the July Charter to be implemented. When discussions were held to draft the July Charter, our party proposed some amendments. We had some notes of dissent regarding constitutional reforms in line with the Constitution of 1972, and we also made several proposals. If those proposals are included, we have no objection. But if our proposals have been changed, we have concerns. But we are in favor of the July Charter.

BSS: What are your expectations regarding the upcoming national parliamentary election?

Selim Akbar: I hope for a free, fair, and impartial election in Bangladesh. Through this election, I expect that in the coming days a discrimination-free Bangladesh, a corruption-free Bangladesh, and a Bangladesh free from terrorism and extortion will be built, where people can live in peace and comfort. No matter which party comes to power, this is our expectation.

We want a discrimination-free society and state to be established in Bangladesh. Just as we could not achieve the desired benefits after the Liberation War of 1971, similarly, we did not achieve the Bangladesh we desired after the movement. We believe that through this election, a discrimination-free Bangladesh will be built. Everyone will regain equal rights. We hope that there will be no partisan consideration in recruitment for jobs, party considerations will not influence offices and courts, bribery and corruption will be stopped, and no one will be appointed to constitutional posts based on party affiliation.

In the 13th national election, a total of seven candidates from different parties are contesting in the Chandpur-3 constituency. They are BNP candidate Sheikh Farid Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md Shahjahan Mia, Gono Forum leader Selim Akbar, Communist Party of Bangladesh candidate Md Jahangir Hossain, Gano Odhikar Parishad leader Md Zakir Hossain, Islami Andolan Bangladesh leader  Md Zainal Abedin Sheikh and Bangladesh Islami Front candidate AHM Ahsan Ullah.

There are 537,592 voters in this constituency, including 275,116 male and 262,374 female voters, along with two third gender voters. There will be 165 polling centers in this constituency.