A number of candidates who are directly involved in the country's sports fraternity is taking part in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections tomorrow (Sunday) across the country.

Most of them are contesting in the election from ruling Awami League with boat symbol while some are there to make difference as independent candidates.
 
Shakib Al Hasan, Magura-1

Shakib Al Hasan, unarguably the best ever cricketers that the country have ever produced, generated huge enthusiasm amongst the candidates with sports background who are contesting in this election. He was initially criticized for joining active politics while still a player but he withstood it. Like the way he weathered any criticism in the sports field with his landmark performance, his relentless and innovative campaign proved made him a stand out player in politics also. Shakib was nominated by the Awami League for Magura-1 constituency. He, however, is expected to win his maiden election.

Mashrafe Bin Mortza, Narail-2

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the most successful captain of the national cricket team participated in the 2018 elections and was elected as a member of parliament. Since then, he has been praised for doing various developmental works in the parliamentary area. So, this time also he has been nominated by the ruling Awami League for Narail-2 constituency. Because of his huge popularity, there is no one to challenge him in this election. There was one as an independent candidate. But senior Awami League leader Syed Faizul Amir Litu withdrew from the election on Wednesday by supporting Mashrafe. As a result, it is clear that Mashrafe will become an MP for the second time from Narail-2.

Zahid Ahsan Russell, Gazipur-2

Although he is from a political family, Zahid Ahsan Russell has a long association with sports. In the 2008 national parliament election, he was elected as a member of parliament from Awami League for the first time. In that sequence, he won the 10th and 11th parliamentary elections with the boat symbol. After serving as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Youth and Sports Ministry for 10 consecutive years, he was made Minister of State for Youth and Sports Ministry in 2018. This time also Russell is in the election field with the boat symbol.

Nazmul Hassan Papon, Kishoreganj-6

Nazmul Hassan Papon is son of former President Zillur Rahman, but he gained reputation as a successful sports organiser, particularly as the president of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He is the incumbent president of BCB after winning its elections for third straight time. While Zillur Rahman was elected as the country's 19th President, Nazmul Hassan was elected unopposed by participating in the by-election in the seat vacated by his father in 2009. He became a Member of Parliament from the same constituency in the next two terms. This time also the ruling Awami League has put confidence in him. Nazmul Hasan is involved in the pharmaceutical industry management profession and was the first elected president of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). During his tenure, Bangladesh Cricket Board has made a lot of economic progress.
 
Abdus Salam Murshedi, Khulna-4

Considered as one of the greatest footballers of the country has ever produced, Abdus Salam Murshedi has already made a stranglehold in politics also.

He came into active politics in 2018. He won the national election for Bangladesh Awami League in Khulna-4 constituency. This time too he is contesting with the boat symbol. However, this time SM Mortaza Rashidi Dara, a well-known face of Khulna sports, is on the field to challenge him. There are nine other candidates. Dara, with the kettle symbol, is in fact the main rival of four-time senior vice-president of the Football Federation Salam Murshedi.

Salman F. Rahman, Dhaka-1

Salman Fazlur Rahman is better known for other identities than sports identity. He is the co-founder of Beximco Group, one of the largest industrial conglomerates in the country. He is one of the richest people in the country. He has been in the arena of politics for a long time serving as an adviser on private industry and investment to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for many years. After entering politics in 1990, he participated in the elections for the first time from Dhaka-1 constituency for the Awami League in 2001 elections. He has been associated with Abahani Limited, a club found by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's elder son Sheikh Kamal as its chairman.
 
Besides, his business organisation has been sponsoring various sports for a long time. This time too, the veteran sports organiser is contesting in Dhaka-1 constituency with the boat symbol.

Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul, Manikganj-2

Singer Momtaz Begum has been the MP of Manikganj-2 Constituency twice. There are several heavyweight independent candidates in the electoral field to challenge him. One of them is the former captain of the national football team and the former sports secretary of Awami League, Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul. The former football star who won the national sports award has achieved success as an organiser. He also was a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
 
Arif Khan Joy, Netrokona-2

Arif Khan Joy, the former captain of the Bangladesh national football team and former deputy minister of youth and sports, is contesting as an independent candidate in the Netrokona-2. In 2014, he was made deputy minister after being elected as a member of parliament from the same constituency with the ruling Awami League's boat symbol. He did not get the party nomination the next time. This time too he wanted the boat symbol. However, instead of giving it to him, the Awami League gave the party symbol to the current Member of Parliament and State Minister for Social Welfare, Ashraf Ali Khan Khosru. He is in the election field to challenge Khosru with the eagle symbol.

Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Jessore-3

Kazi Nabil Ahmed has been the vice-president of Bangladesh Football Federation for four consecutive times. More than that, he is the acting director in charge of Abahani Limited. As the eldest son of the late Kazi Shahed Ahmed who took the lead in Abahani's troubled times, his association with the sport has been for a long time. Nabil, who is associated with Awami politics because of his father, was elected Member of Parliament for Jessore- 3 Constituency in the 10th National Parliament Elections in 2014 with the boat symbol. Nabil became an MP again in 2018. So, Awami League has trusted him this time too. He has to fight against multiple candidates to become an MP for the third time in a row.
 
Ataur Rahman Bhuiya Manik, Noakhali-2

Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik wanted to become an MP from Noakhali-2. However, Awami League did not nominate him for this seat. Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik, the leader of Tama group, is in the election as an independent candidate with the scissors symbol. His association with sports especially football federations is not long. However, Manik has been working on football development since being elected vice-president in 2020.

Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Moulvibazar-2

The well-known face of Sylhet's sports arena, Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, head of the women's wing of the BCB is contesting in Moulvibazar-2 with boat symbol. In 2019, Nadel, a former BCL leader was made the organising secretary of the Central Committee of Awami League. He also held the position in the 2022 concil. He has to fight with independent candidate Safi Ahmad Salman and Trinamool BNP candidate former MP MM Shaheen.

 
Hasanul Haque Inu, Kushtia-2

Hasanul Haque Inu gained fame as the goalkeeper of Mohammedan Sporting Club of the then East Pakistan in the 60's. He played for Central Printing and Stationery Club, East End Club, Wari Club and lastly Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Dhaka First Division Football League from 1965-70. In 1966, as a member of the Pakistan sports team, he participated in the Pak-German sports competition and took third place in the high jump. In 1969, he participated in the All-Pakistan National Competition in Lahore as a member of the combined East Pakistan University football team. Played as a member of East Pakistan Youth Football Team in 1969-70, the JSD president and also the former information minister is running this time as a coalition partner of Awami League like the previous three times.