Khulna-2 (Sadar–Sonadanga), long regarded as a BNP stronghold, produced an unexpected outcome in the latest parliamentary election. After years of dominance in competitive contests, the BNP candidate was defeated by a nominee from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. This marks the first time Jamaat has secured a parliamentary seat within Khulna city.

In the national election held last Thursday, Jamaat won two of Khulna’s six constituencies—Khulna-2 and Khulna-6. While a Jamaat victory in Khulna-6 had been widely anticipated, the result in Khulna-2 has sparked significant political discussion.

BNP’s candidate in Khulna-2 was central organising secretary Nazrul Islam Manju, known as an experienced grassroots leader. He faced Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal, general secretary of Jamaat’s metropolitan unit and a former councillor of Ward 31 under the Khulna City Corporation. Despite many pre-election assessments favouring Manju, he ultimately lost by a narrow margin.

Historically, the seat has leaned toward BNP in competitive elections. Former Speaker Sheikh Razzak Ali won there in 1991 and 1996, while BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia secured victory in 2001. Even amid the alliance’s poor performance in 2008, Manju managed to retain the seat. Jamaat had not fielded a candidate here since 1996.

Conversations with around 20 local BNP leaders, activists, supporters, and voters suggest that low voter turnout, lack of coordination within the party, and internal divisions were major factors behind the defeat.

According to local observers, Jamaat intensified its grassroots efforts after August 5, 2024. The party focused on door-to-door outreach, mobilising women voters, and maintaining internal unity—strategies that appear to have worked in its favour.

Some BNP insiders acknowledged weaknesses in campaign management, overconfidence, limited outreach beyond major roads and markets, and failure to effectively mobilise women voters. Reports also indicate that longstanding factional disputes within the city unit—dating back to the dissolution of the metropolitan committee in 2021—had strained relations between Manju and sections of the current leadership.

Although both factions eventually campaigned for Manju after his nomination was confirmed, underlying tensions reportedly remained unresolved. Senior city BNP leaders have since said a deeper review is needed to understand the reasons behind the unexpected loss.