Voters in Gaibandha-4 (Gobindaganj upazila) and Mymensingh-6 (Phulbaria upazila) constituencies are set to witness a three-way election race between the ruling Awami League (AL), BNP and Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) in the upcoming eleventh parliamentary elections.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reports: Although the major three candidates of AL, BNP and JP are seen running their electioneering in full swing in Gaibandha-4, the ruling party candidate is far ahead in the campaign.

Once considered as a stronghold of JP during the Ershad regime, AL won the seat in the last two polls.

JP captured the seat for three consecutive times since 1986 while BNP held the seat for a singe term.

AL nominated candidate Monwer Hossain Chowdhury, former LGED chief engineer, who won the ninth parliamentary elections, was defeated by AL rebel candidate Abul Kalam Azad in the 10th parliamentary elections.

Although Azad, president of Gobindaganj upazila unit AL, sought nomination, the party central committee nominated Monower from the constituency.

BNP-backed and resigned Gobindaganj Upazila Parishad chairman Faruk Kabir Ahmed, also general secretary of upazila unit BNP, who has all out support from his party men and locals, might appear as a strong candidate as he will draw strong support from the Jamaat voters as well.

Earlier, the nomination paper of  Abdur Rahim Sarker, ameer of district unit Jamaat, was cancelled during primary scrutiny.

Local people think JP candidate Kazi Mohammad Moshiur Rahman, convener of upazila unit JP, can be a major factor  in the election race.

Khandker Mohammad Rashed (National Peoples' Party), Abul Kalam (Jaker Party), Shamiul Alam (Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party), Sanower Hossain, (Bangladesh Muslim League) and Syed Tauhidul Islam (Islami Andolon Bangladesh) are also contesting in the elections from the constituency.

Away in Mymensingh-6 constituency, voters are expecting a three-way election fight between AL, BNP and JP, reports our correspondent.

Muslem Uddin is contesting the election race with AL ticket, while Shams Uddin Ahmed is backed by BNP and Dr Khandaker Rafiqul Islam is nominated by JP.

Veteran AL leader Muslem Uddin was elected lawmaker from the constituency five times since 1970.

BNP nominated Shams Uddin won the seat in the 2001 polls while JP-backed Dr Rafiqul failed to win the race in his previous attempts.

Locals witnessed a close contest in the 2001 general elections when BNP's Shams Uddin won the fight securing 56,570 votes. AL's Muslem Uddin and Jamaat were in the second and thrid positions with 52,627and  47,375 votes.

Dr Rafiqul, hailing from Bakta union, Shams Uddin from Achhim Patuli union and Muslem Uddin from Kushmile union have their own vote banks in the areas,  said several locals..

Two other aspirants in the constituency are Syed Shafiqul Islam (independent) and Nurul Alam Siddiquee (Islami Andolon Bangladesh).