The finalisation of candidates for the 63 constituencies initially left vacant by the BNP has been stalled.
The delay is due to the issue of a referendum on the July Charter implementation. The process of forming an alliance with its allies and like-minded parties has also been delayed for the same reason.
Decision making delayed
Multiple senior BNP leaders confirmed that the party had intended to finalise candidates for these vacant seats within this week.
In response to a query by TIMES of Bangladesh about declaring candidates for the 63 vacant seats, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the situation in various constituencies is under observation.
He added that allied parties have also been asked for their lists of potential candidates. The names of probable candidates from the BNP and its allies for these seats will be announced soon.
Preliminary plans indicate that 23 seats have been reserved for the movement’s allied parties, according to several BNP leaders.
Earlier, on 3 November, Fakhrul had announced the BNP’s nominated candidates for 237 out of 300 constituencies. Due to internal conflicts within the BNP leadership and the need to allocate seats to allied parties, no candidates were declared for the remaining 63 seats.
Internal unrest over nominations
Following the initial announcement, supporters of those who were denied nominations protested violently. This includes blockading roads in different areas across the country.
The party’s high command is now facing difficulties as disagreements have emerged between local leaders and activists for and against the nominees in the contested constituencies.
Among the constituencies facing unrest after the nomination announcement are Mymensingh-3 (Gauripur), Chapainawabganj-2 (Bholahat, Gomostapur, Nachol), Brahmanbaria-4 (Akhaura-Kasba), and Brahmanbaria-5 (Nabinagar). Also affected are Naogaon-4 (Manda), Satkhira-2 (Sadar-Debhata), Satkhira-3 (Kaliganj-Ashashuni), Mymensingh-6 (Fulbaria), and Habiganj-4 (Chunarughat-Madhabpur). The list further includes Cox’s Bazar-4 (Ukhia-Teknaf), Natore-1 (Lalpur-Bagatipara), Rangpur-3, Narayanganj-2 (Araihazar), and Madaripur-1.
Others are Meherpur-2 (Gangni), Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda), Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari), Narsingdi-4, and Munshiganj-2. Chattogram-16, Noakhali-5, Thakurgaon-3, and Rajshahi-4 & 5 are also experiencing tensions.
Specific constituency developments
Amidst this, the nomination initially given to Kamal Zaman Molla for Madaripur-1 (Shibchar) constituency has been suspended. This followed protests by local BNP members.
Conversely, although no candidate was initially announced for Sylhet-4, the party later nominated Ariful Haque Chowdhury for that seat. He is an adviser to Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Ariful Haque had sought nomination for Sylhet-1, where Khondkar Abdul Moqtadir Chowdhury was nominated. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia subsequently summoned Ariful Haque Chowdhury to her residence. She directed him to contest from Sylhet-4 (Companiganj, Gowainghat, Jaintiapur).
In some areas, those denied nominations continue their protests. The BNP has already expelled several leaders and activists from the party and its associated bodies for this reason. Despite this, many rejected aspirants maintain a firm stance.
Several are considering resigning from the party to contest the polls as independent candidates.
The BNP high command is closely monitoring these developments. Several senior leaders express concern that further delays in announcing candidates for the vacant seats could intensify internal friction.
Seat-sharing progress
Meanwhile, party sources say multiple hopefuls for the vacant seats have been in contact with the party’s high command.
These seats include Dhaka-9, Dhaka-18, Dhaka-20, Madaripur-2, and Gazipur-1. Also involved are Tangail-5, Chattogram-6, Chattogram-9, Chattogram-11, and Barishal-3. Jhalokathi-1, Jhenaidah-4, and Sirajganj-1 are also on the list.
BNP leaders indicate that candidates from allied parties have been finalised for several of the seats reserved for them.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagarik Oikya is set for Bogura-2. Zonayed Saki of Gono Sanghati Andolan is for Brahmanbaria-6. Andaleeve Parth of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) is for Dhaka-17. Bobby Hajjaj of NDM is for Dhaka-13.
Candidates are mostly finalised for other seats. Either LDP Chairman Oli Ahmed or his son will contest Chattogram-14. LDP Secretary General Redwan Ahmed is for Cumilla-7. Bangladesh LDP Chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim is for Lakshmipur-1.
Bangladesh Jatiya Dal Chairman Ehsanul Haque is for Kishoreganj-5. Jatiya Party (Zafar) leader Mustafa Jamal Haider is for Pirojpur-1. NPP Chairman Dr Fariduzzaman Farhad is for Narail-2. Tania Rob, wife of JSD President ASM Abdur Rob, is for Lakshmipur-4.
Furthermore, if an alliance is formed, Gonoforum’s Subrata Chowdhury may be fielded in Dhaka-7. AKM Jaglul Haider Afrik may run in Narsingdi-3. Professor Abu Sayeed is a possibility for Pabna-1.
Jamaat-e-Ulama-e-Islam’s Junaid Al Habib may be a candidate in Brahmanbaria-2. Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Nurul Haque Nur and Rashed Khan could be candidates in Patuakhali-3 and Jhenaidah-2, respectively.
Final calculations remain
However, the final calculations for seat-sharing with allies and coalition partners remain incomplete. Notably, leaders of the National Citizen’s Party (NCP) are also in contact with the BNP.
Should the NCP agree to abide by the electoral conditions, it may be allocated six to eight seats. This could include two in Dhaka. No leaders from either party have officially acknowledged this matter yet.
Sources within BNP indicate that backchannel negotiations between them are ongoing.
