BNP has launched a fresh initiative to discipline wayward leaders and activists, in a bid to protect the party’s image ahead of the national election slated for February.
The party has issued a stark warning that anyone found responsible for undermining law and order in a manner that disrupts the polls will face severe consequences.
“If necessary, some individuals may even be expelled from the party for life,” BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman said during several recent virtual addresses.
Tarique said party decisions must be treated as final, stressing that the interests of the nation and its people come before those of individuals or the party itself.
He added that BNP is now fully focused on the upcoming polls and preparing accordingly. Tarique urged all members to remain united and avoid actions that could cause delays.
He warned that the worsening law-and-order situation must not be allowed to deteriorate further, calling on leaders and activists to stay vigilant and active in the field. No internal conflict, hesitation, or rivalry would be tolerated.
Tarique said the party’s image must be protected at all costs, and the opposition must not be given any opportunity to blame BNP.
The acting chairman delivered these directives at a recent meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee, as well as at programmes organised by BNP and its affiliated organisations nationwide.
Law and order across the country has become a growing public concern, with murders, robberies, banditry and mugging now reported almost daily. Despite this, BNP has made it clear that it does not want the polls postponed because of the worsening security situation.
The party’s leadership insists it is preparing for an election that is free, fair and acceptable to all under the current interim administration. Even so, senior BNP figures allege that conspiracies to delay the election are continuing.
Standing Committee members have held multiple meetings in recent weeks, expressing alarm over rising murder cases and mob violence in the run-up to the vote.
Party leaders also warn that crime is increasing under the guise of politics, with criminal groups exploiting ongoing instability. They say major political parties – including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami – as well as smaller groups, must unite to ensure a credible election.
Only strong and responsible political leadership, they argue, can prevent manipulation and keep the election on schedule.
Tarique reiterated that strict organisational action will be taken against anyone whose conduct damages the party’s reputation. An internal survey is under way, with information being gathered from BNP grassroots units.
On 3 November, BNP unveiled a list of potential candidates for 237 constituencies following a five-and-a-half-hour meeting of the Standing Committee at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the names at a press conference. However, the party withheld names for the remaining 63 seats allocated to alliance partners and additional BNP aspirants.
The vacant seats have triggered protests within the party and opposition alliance, with supporters holding demonstrations both for and against certain prospective nominees.
Torchlight processions demanding nomination changes have been seen in several constituencies. In Mymensingh, activists stopped a train in protest.
In Madaripur-1, demonstrators blocked the Dhaka–Barishal highway, prompting the party to suspend the nomination process for the seat. Protests and counter-processions continue across the country, with rival groups issuing competing statements.
Competition has also intensified in the 63 vacant seats, with BNP and allied hopefuls campaigning independently while awaiting final decisions. They remain active in the field, vying for a place on the final candidate list.
Tarique said multiple competent candidates are available in each constituency and urged party members to respect the high command’s decisions. He warned that counter-statements and protests would not be tolerated.
A member of the Standing Committee said the remaining candidate names would be announced soon, which would resolve the ongoing disputes.
He added that BNP is continuing its preparations for the polls and that the acting chairman has instructed all party members to unite behind the “sheaf of paddy” symbol.
According to the senior leader, certain quarters are deliberately undermining the law-and-order situation through conspiracies aimed at delaying the polls. These groups, he said, continue to organise street movements with various demands.
