Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has included 81 new candidates in its list of 237 potential nominees for the upcoming national election.
After a break from the national election since 2018, BNP is set to contest again.
According to the party insiders, 83 new aspirants have been nominated this time, marking the highest number of first-time candidates in the party’s recent electoral history.
In the past elections, including the 2018 polls, BNP had never fielded so many newcomers under its iconic symbol “sheaf of paddy”.
Of the 237 nominees, 151 had contested previous elections, while the rest are new comprising former student leaders, physicians, expatriates, lawyers, and children of deceased BNP leaders, as well as several grassroots organisers.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the list at a press briefing held on Monday at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan, following a five-hour-long meeting of the BNP Standing Committee that approved the nominations.
According to the declared list, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will contest the upcoming national election from Feni-1, Bogura-7, and Dinajpur-3, while Tarique Rahman will run from Bogura-6, a seat his mother has represented since 1996.
The first-time nominees are: Nilphamari-2 AHM Mohammad Saifullah Rubel, Rangpur-1 Mokarram Hossain Sujon, Rangpur-3 Shamsuzzaman Shamu, Kurigram-2 Mohammad Sohel Hossain Kaykobad, Gaibandha-2 Anisuzzaman Khan Babu, Gaibandha-4 Mohammad Faruk Alam Sarkar, Joypurhat-1 Mohammad Masud Rana Pradhan, Joypurhat-2 former secretary Abdul Bari, Nilphamari-4 Mohammad Abdul Gafur Sarkar, Naogaon-1 Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, Naogaon-3 Fazle Huda Babul, Naogaon-4 Ekramul Bari Tipu, Naogaon-6 Sheikh Mohammad Rezaul Islam, Rajshahi-1 Mohammad Sharif Uddin, Rajshahi-4 DMD Ziaur Rahman, Rajshahi-5 Professor Nazrul Islam.
Natore-1 Farzana Sharmin, Sirajganj-4 SM Akbar Ali, Sirajganj-3 Ainul Haque, Pabna-3 Mohammad Hasan Jafir Tuhin, Pabna-5 Mohammad Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Kushtia-2 Ragib Rauf Chowdhury, Jhenaidah-3 Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, Jessore-2 Mohammad Sabira Sultana, Khulna-6 Monirul Hasan Bappi, Jessore-6 Kazi Raonakul Islam Shrabon, Satkhira-2 Abdur Rouf, Satkhira-4 Md Moniruzzaman, Barguna-1 Nazrul Islam Molla, Bhola-4 Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayon, Barishal-4 Mohammad Rajib Ahsan, Pirojpur-2 Ahmed Sohel Monjur, Tangail-3 ASM Obaidul Haque Nasir, Tangail-4 Mohammad Lutfor Rahman Matin, Tangail-6 Robiul Awal Lavlu, Tangail-8 Ahmed Azam Khan, Mymensingh-1 Syed Imran Saleh, Mymensingh-2 Motaher Hossain Talukdar are among the others.
The others new candidates are: Mymensingh-6 Md Akhtarul Alam, Mymensingh-8 Lutfulahel Majed, Mymensingh-9 Yaser Khan Chowdhury, Kishoreganj-2 Advocate Md Jalal Uddin, Munshiganj-1 Sheikh Md Abdullah, Dhaka-4 Tanvir Ahmed Robin, Dhaka-14 Sanjida Islam Tuli, Dhaka-15 Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka-16 Aminul Haque, Gazipur-2 M Manjurul Karim Rony, Gazipur-3 Professor SM Rafiqul Islam Bacchu, Narayanganj-1 Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu, Narayanganj-2 Nazrul Islam Azad, Narayanganj-3 Md Azharul Islam Mannan, Narayanganj-5 Md Masuduzzaman, Faridpur-3 Nayab Yusuf Ahmed, Faridpur-4 Shahidul Islam Babul, Gopalganj-1 Md Selimuzzaman Mollah, Gopalganj-2 Dr KM Babor Ali, Madaripur-1 Kamal Zaman Molla, Shariatpur-1 Sayeed Ahmed Aslam, Sunamganj-3 Mohammad Koyser Ahmed, Sunamganj-5 Kalim Uddin Milon, Sylhet-2 Tahsina Rushdir.
Sylhet-3 Mohammad Abdul Malik, Sylhet-6 Emran Ahmed Chowdhury, Moulvibazar-2 Sowkat Hossain Soku, Habiganj-2 Abu Monsur Sakhawat Hasan Jibon, Habiganj-4 SM Faisal, Brahmanbaria-1 SA Hannan, Brahmanbaria-4 Mushfiqur Rahman, Brahmanbaria-5 Md Abdul Mannan, Dhaka-6 Ishraque Hossain, Sunamganj-1 Anisul Haque, Cumilla-5 Md Jasim Uddin, Noakhali-5 Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, Cumilla-11 Md Kamrul Huda, Feni-3 Abdul Awal Mintu, Noakhali-6 Mohammad Mahburer Rahman Shamim, Chattogram-2 Sarwar Alamgir, Chattogram-4 Kazi Salauddin, Chattogram-5 Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Chattogram-7 Hummam Quader Chowdhury, Chattogram-8 Ershad Ullah, and Chattogram-16 Mishkatul Islam Chowdhury Pappa are also included in the list.
