Four-party alliance candidate Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury conducts poll campaign at Gosaildanga in Chittagong-10 yesterday.Photo: STAR

Having most of the commercial activities of the port city in and around it, Chittagong 10 (Bandar-Patenga) is a dream constituency for the highest number of 10 runners in the district.
The constituency, comprising 10 Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) wards 27, 28, 29, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41, has the highest number of 4,33, 942 voters among all the 16 parliamentary constituencies in Chittagong.
Ten candidates contesting for the seat include seven from two alliances, five from other parties and three independent candidates.
However, a direct fight will take place between grand alliance candidate from Awami League (AL) MA Latif and 4-party alliance candidate and former BNP minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
Khosru won the seat (the then Chittagong- 8) for consecutive three terms in 1991, 1996 and 2001.
However, his rare presence in the locality has created resentment among the voters.
While talking to The Daily Star on Friday, Khosru defended himself saying that he had to discharge his responsibilities as a minister, rather than confining himself to his own constituency only.
“However, I always laid a great emphasis on the development of drainage system, local roads and infrastructure required for industrialisation and commercial activities of the port city,” he added.
Latif, also the newly elected president of Chittagong chamber, is a new face.
Latif, who was earlier regarded as a BNP-minded person, got the AL nomination replacing AL leader Khorshed Alam Sujan, an incident that has disappointed local AL leaders and activists, said a grassroots leader preferring anonymity.
So Latif may not have spontaneous support of local AL leaders and activists, he observed. Besides, the presence of AL-backed CCC Ward Councillor Mohammad Jahangir Alam in the electoral race as an independent candidate in this seat may curtail some votes from Latif, said party insiders.