The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has regained the Khulna-3 and Khulna-4 parliamentary constituencies after a gap of 25 years, securing victories in both seats in the national parliamentary election 2026.
Local voters and political analysts believe the outcome was influenced significantly by the collapse of the electoral alliance between Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh. The division of the Islamic vote bank — with Islami Andolan candidates finishing third in both constituencies with notable vote shares — is seen as having worked in the BNP’s favour.Kudrat-e-Khuda, General Secretary of SHUJAN (Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik – Citizens for Good Governance) in Khulna district, observed that the results in several seats might have been different had Islami Andolan remained in alliance with Jamaat. In his view, a united Islamic bloc would have made it far more difficult for the BNP to secure victory in Khulna-3 and Khulna-4.
Khulna-3
Khulna-3, comprising wards 1 to 15 of Khulna City Corporation along with Jogipol and Aronghata Union, saw BNP’s Central Student Affairs Secretary Rokibul Islam (Bakul) emerge victorious with 74,845 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat’s Central Majlis-e-Shura member and metropolitan Ameer Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, secured 66,010 votes — a margin of 8,835.
The Islami Andolan candidate, Md A Auwal, received 5,705 votes.
Local observers noted that in the event of a united election under a single alliance, the Islami Andolan votes might have added to Jamaat’s tally, potentially altering the outcome.
Historically, Khulna-3 has alternated between the Awami League and the BNP. The seat was last won by the BNP in 2001, when Ashraf Hossain was elected and later served as a parliamentary whip. In subsequent elections, Awami League candidates secured victory. Jamaat has not fielded a candidate in this constituency since 1996, when its current Secretary General, Mia Golam Parwar, contested and received 7,898 votes. The 1996 election was won by Awami League’s Kazi Sekendar Ali, while in 1991 the BNP’s Ashraf Hossain was victorious.
Khulna-4
In Khulna-4 — comprising Rupsa, Terokhada and Dighalia — BNP National Executive Committee Information Secretary SK Azizul Bari Helal secured a decisive win with 123,162 votes. He had previously contested the seat in 2018 but was defeated.
His closest contender, SM Sakhawat Hossain, Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Khelafat Majlish and candidate of the 11-party alliance, garnered 109,530 votes. The margin of victory stood at 13,632 votes.
Islami Andolan’s candidate and Secretary General, Yunus Ahmed Sheikh, polled 13,345 votes. Notably, Khulna-4 was the only one among the 36 constituencies in Khulna Division where Jamaat left the seat to an alliance partner.
Observers had anticipated that the result in this constituency would hinge on the split within the Islamic vote bank, alongside the BNP’s organisational strength and established support base. Ultimately, that assessment proved accurate, as the fragmented Islamic vote appears to have significantly benefited Azizul Bari Helal.
Historically, Khulna-4 has largely remained under Awami League control. SM Mostafa Rashidi Suja of the Awami League won the seat in both the 1991 and 1996 elections. The BNP’s M Nurul Islam captured it in 2001, but Awami League candidates prevailed in 2008, 2014, 2018 and 2024.
The 2026 results thus mark a significant political shift in both constituencies, restoring the BNP’s foothold in Khulna-3 and Khulna-4 after a quarter of a century.
