As part of a four-day tour of the northern region, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will visit the grave of Majlum Jananeta Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani in Santosh, Tangail on 11 January.
As such, a festive atmosphere has arisen in the area surrounding the Tarique’s arrival. However, out of Tangail’s 8 constituencies, party conflict and internal strife have emerged in three constituencies, Tangail-2, 3, and 5, with local BNP leaders strongly opposing each other.
Although there is enthusiasm among leaders and activists regarding Tarique Rahman’s Tangail visit, local leaders and voters of the three constituencies are in a dilemma over which candidate to vote for. The party’s Tangail base has splintered into two opposing factions.
Therefore, ahead of Tarique Rahman’s visit, leaders and activists in the area want a proper solution.
In Tangail-5, BNP’s nominated candidate is the party’s Central Publicity Secretary, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku. In the same seat, District BNP General Secretary Advocate Farhad Iqbal is contesting as an independent candidate.
Tuku is essentially a heavyweight candidate as someone who has served in almost every important position within the party, including as president and general secretary of the central committee of Chhatra Dal. His familial connections also hold him up as one of BNP’s most important leaders.
His elder brother, Abdus Salam Pintu, is the founding general secretary of Tangail BNP, a former deputy minister, and current central BNP vice chairman. He was sentenced to death in the 21 August grenade attack case and spent a long time in prison as a result, eventually released on bail after 2024’s July Uprising.
In the upcoming election, he is contesting as the party’s nominated candidate in Tangail-2. However, Farhad Iqbal’s career in BNP should not be taken lightly. From Chhatra Dal, having served as both VP and president of district Chhatra Dal, he has held various important roles. He played an active role in the past movement as Tangail’s organizing secretary and general secretary.
But with one deemed a rebel candidate, contesting against the party’s nomination, local leaders and activists have become divided over who to support.
Meanwhile, Tangail-3 is experiencing similar internal conflict. BNP’s nomination acting general secretary of Chhatra Dal Central Parliament and current member of BNP’s executive committee, Obaidul Haque Nasir.
Challenging Nasir, former state minister and member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, Lutfar Rahman Azad, is contesting as an independent candidate.
He is widely known in the area as an experienced politician and minister. Due to his development work in the area in the past, he also has widespread support from local BNP leaders and activists.
Then, there is Tangail-8. This constituency is formed with Sakhipur and Basail upazilas. This constituency is significant due to its connection to Bongobir Kader Siddiqui Bir Uttam who, in 1971, formed the Kaderia Bahini in the area. Additionally, Kader Siddiqui has been a widely discussed political personality both during his time in the Awami League and after founding Krishak Sramik Janata League.
For obvious reasons, he will not be participating in the upcoming election. BNP’s nomination for the constituency is Central BNP Vice Chairman Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan. Ahmed Azam is well known within the party as a central leader and very close to the Zia family. As an income tax lawyer, he also worked as a lawyer for BNP’s late Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
In the same constituency, prominent industrialist, Chairman of Labib Group, Salahuddin Al-Mamun Russell, is contesting as an independent candidate. Although he is an independent candidate, he is known as a person from the BNP’s inner circle.
Salahuddin Al-Mamun Russell is hugely popular as a social worker and party donor. Locals have stated that the main contest in this constituency will be between Azad and Salahuddin.
