SIFAYET ULLAH, Ctg

Voters in Chattogram-8 (Boalkhali–Chandgaon) are growing increasingly confused as tensions between Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance partner National Citizen Party (NCP) intensify, disrupting coordinated campaigning and creating uncertainty at the grassroots ahead of the polls.

Although Jobairul Hasan Arif of the NCP has received the alliance’s nomination for the seat, seven days into his campaign, Jamaat leaders and supporters are reportedly trying to bring back their withdrawn candidate, Abu Naser, into the race.

They have also carried out activities, including chanting slogans, to openly boycott the NCP.

“Abu Naser is a widely popular figure who has been working in the area for 30 years. That is why we are trying to convince the party leadership to bring him back,” Dr Khorshed Alam, ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami in Boalkhali upazila, told The Daily Star.

Other alliance partners withdrew after the submission of nomination papers, but the Jamaat candidate did not, meaning his name remains on the ballot. However, Jamaat has officially confirmed the withdrawal of its candidate through a press conference.

Khorshed said they are neither opposing nor campaigning. “Our manpower is not active. We are waiting because we are hopeful that our candidate, Abu Naser, will be allowed to contest this seat,” he said.

Meanwhile, the constituency has increasingly turned into a battleground of verbal exchanges between NCP and Jamaat supporters.

To address the situation, the NCP has already held two press conferences.

NCP leaders and activists alleged that, although the Jamaat candidate has stayed off the campaign trail, The BNP

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