People's man Mahmud Hasan Ripon ahead of the competition in the MP election.

The mood of voting is in the air in the sky of Saghata-Fulchari. Five candidates will fight to become members of parliament from the morning of October 12 in the seat. Among them, the most talked about name is Mahmud Hasan Ripon, former president of Chhatra League.

Even though Ripon was not nominated in the last two elections, the way he went from village to village and worked for the people is coming back to everyone's mouth. Locals say that they know Ripon as an 'honest boy' and want to see him like this in the future.

Mahbur Mia, a van driver of East Chalua village of Udakhali Union of Phulchari Upazila, said, 'Our area gets flooded every year. Ripon visits us every time and helps the flood affected people. We want such a boy as an MP for poor people like us.'

The total number of voters in the constituency is three lakh 39 thousand 98 people. Votes will be taken in 952 booths of 145 centers in EVMs.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabi on July 23.

According to District Election Office sources, a total of five candidates including Mahmud Hasan Ripon of Awami League are contesting in the by-election. The remaining four: Jatiya Party (JPA) nominee AHM Golam Shaheed Ranju, alternative party nominee Jahangir Alam, independent candidate Nahiduzzaman and Syed Mahbubur Rahman.

Ashwini Kumar Barman, president of Phulchhari Upazila Puja Celebration Parishad, thinks that Ripon will win with huge votes, 'Ripon was the president of Central Chhatra League. The leader gave him the boat symbol. I think he will be elected by a huge margin. He has already done a lot of developmental work in the area. Since he was the president of the Chhatra League, those who have done student politics have a little more experience. I think Ripon can fill the void of the former MP by using that experience.

"I saw Mahmud Hasan Ripon Bhai, who is known as the idol of the student society of all Bangladesh, working for the poor and helpless people during the floods and during the corona," said Chabiha Sultana (20), a second-year student of the political science department of Rangpur Carmichael College, a resident of Saghata Sadar Union. She also believes Ripon will have the opportunity to work more if he gets elected. 

Mosharf Hossain (23), a BA third year student of Saghata Degree College, said, 'After the death of Gaibandha-5 Constituency MP Fazle Rabbi Mia, now Mahmud Hasan Ripon has been nominated by Awami League. He is a very good person. If the MP is elected from the young generation, I think the area will develop.'

Zakir Hossain, a cloth merchant of Uttar Kathur village of Phulchari upazila, recalled the past and said, 'I have seen Ripon brother come during the flood and give relief. If there is any problem in the upazila, he rushes and solves it. He has been working alongside the people of Saghata Phulchari for 15 years. We, who are businessmen, think that if this young leader is elected, there will be a lot of development in the area.'

Recalling Ripon's love for the people of Char area, NGO activist Farid Uddin said, 'We have known Ripon Bhai since many years. He once led the student politics of Bangladesh. Since he is a confidant of Sheikh Hasina, I think it is possible to do the development work of Phulchari-Saghata only with Ripon Bhai.
I have seen that he has often rushed to find out about the people of our Char area.'

Ripon has been very active in terms of campaigning as he has been seen visiting the voters from door to door. 

Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Presidium Member of Bangladesh Awami League and many other former Chhatra League leaders have joined him during his campaign.