BNP is moving to form a broad electoral alliance with nearly 30 political parties ahead of the upcoming 13th national election. Party insiders say the process of distributing the remaining constituencies among alliance partners has already begun and could be finalised within a week.
Earlier, the party announced candidates for 237 parliamentary seats, sparking protests in several constituencies. In some areas, angry party supporters blocked roads and staged demonstrations that occasionally turned violent. Following unrest in Madaripur-1, BNP suspended the nomination there. Four members of the Swechchhasebak Dal were expelled for leading violent protests in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “The list of 237 constituencies is only preliminary. The party’s standing committee reserves the right to make changes if necessary.”
On Monday, BNP left 63 constituencies vacant in its candidate list. Party leaders said these seats are being kept open for trusted leaders of allied parties that have long participated in anti-government movements alongside BNP.
Several leaders from alliance partners told TIMES that they had requested at least 50 seats from BNP. However, BNP sources said the party plans to allocate between 30 and 40 seats to its partners. Fakhrul confirmed that alliance partners had been asked to submit their preferred seat lists, adding that a final decision would be made “soon through dialogue.”
Party insiders also said the number of seats offered to allies could increase if any deal is reached with the National Citizen Party (NCP). However, most senior BNP leaders are reportedly opposed to seat-sharing with the NCP.
After seat-sharing within the alliance is complete, BNP will finalise its own candidates for the remaining constituencies. Some seats have been withheld because of multiple strong contenders from within the party itself. Nominations in those cases will be confirmed after further scrutiny.
A member of BNP’s standing committee said the alliance is expected to include “around 30 small and large political parties.” When asked about a possible understanding with the NCP, he replied, “There were discussions some days ago, but it’s uncertain what will happen now.”
According to sources, BNP has kept some constituencies open for figures from parties such as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Gonotantra Mancha, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gono Forum, the 12-Party Alliance, like-minded alliance, and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP).
In Dhaka, the BNP has not fielded candidates in Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-17. Bobby Hajjaj is likely to contest Dhaka-13 as the alliance nominee, while Andaleeve Rahman Partha of the BJP could be nominated for Dhaka-17.
In Chattogram-14, Omar Faruk, son of Democratic Party President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, may contest with BNP’s backing. BNP has not nominated anyone there. Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna is expected to contest from Bogra-2 (Shibganj) — another seat left vacant by BNP. The Patuakhali-3 seat has also been left open, where Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur is a likely nominee. The party’s general secretary Rashed Khan may get the Jhenaidah-2 seat — another constituency with no BNP candidate listed.
In Laxmipur-1, BNP has not nominated anyone. Shahadat Hossain Selim, chairman of the LDP and spokesperson for the 12-Party Alliance, hopes to get BNP’s endorsement there. “I have been working in the constituency for a long time,” Selim told TIMES, expressing confidence that he would be nominated as he also contested from the same seat in 2018.
Tania Rob, wife of JSD leader ASM Abdur Rob, has been actively campaigning in Laxmipur-4, another seat with no BNP nominee.
In Jhalakathi-1, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran hopes to run with BNP’s support. “During the Awami League’s misrule, we stood beside BNP in the anti-fascist movement. We are still with them,” Iran told TIMES, adding that he was confident of receiving BNP’s backing.
Gonosanghati Andolon Coordinator Zonayed Saki, who has been campaigning in Brahmanbaria-6, also hopes for BNP’s support. “We have long worked together against the Awami League government,” he said, expressing confidence in his chances of victory if nominated.
Meanwhile, BNP’s nomination announcement has triggered full-fledged election enthusiasm among party workers across the country. In several constituencies, activists celebrated their preferred candidates’ nominations with fireworks, rallies, and sweets.
Particularly in Dinajpur-3, Bogra-7, and Feni-1, where BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been nominated, and Bogra-6, where Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will contest, a festive atmosphere has gripped local supporters.
A BNP activist in Bogra said Tarique Rahman’s nomination had sparked a “new wave of excitement” in the area. “Now is the time to unite for the struggle to restore democracy,” he said.
