Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the BNP has changed its candidate in the Chattogram-6 (Raozan) constituency.
Replacing preliminary nominee Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, the party has given the final nomination to former central organising secretary and former North District BNP convenor Golam Akbar Khondkar.
Golam Akbar Khondkar confirmed the matter to the media on Sunday.
In his immediate reaction, he expressed gratitude to the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
At the same time, he said he hoped to build Raozan into a united and peace-loving area.
At a press conference held on 5 December, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had given the preliminary nomination to central vice-chairman Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury for the Chattogram-6 (Raozan) constituency.
Although he did not receive the preliminary nomination, former North District BNP convenor Golam Akbar Khondkar had collected the nomination form for the seat.
In Raozan, Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury and Golam Akbar Khondkar, both known as influential BNP leaders, have been locked in a long-running rivalry.
Their supporters have frequently clashed over control of the area, with incidents of attacks, counter-attacks and abductions reported.
According to party sources, at least 50 incidents of attacks and counter-attacks occurred between the two BNP groups in Raozan after 5 August, including 26 major clashes.
Following repeated violence, the Chattogram North District BNP committee was dissolved on 29 July, while in a separate letter, the position of central committee vice-chairman Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury was suspended.
On 27 December, the BNP also changed previously announced candidates and gave final nominations in two more parliamentary constituencies in Chattogram.
Under the party’s decision, BNP chairperson’s advisory council member Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury received the final nomination in Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda and part of Chattogram city), while Sayeed Al Noman, son of late leader Abdullah Al Noman, received the final nomination in Chattogram-10 (Pahartali–Halishahar).
