The BNP-led alliance has nominated Maulana Junayed Al Habib, vice president of the central committee of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, as its candidate for the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, while several BNP leaders, including Barrister Rumeen Farhana, have announced plans to contest the seat as independent candidates.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan political office on Tuesday, citing seat-sharing arrangements with alliance partners.
He warned that organisational action would be taken against party members who contest the election independently in defiance of party decisions.
Fakhrul urged voters to support the alliance nominee by voting for the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh electoral symbol ‘Date palm tree’, saying it would strengthen the BNP.
The Brahmanbaria-2 constituency comprising -Sarail, Ashuganj and parts of Bijoynagar-had at least eight BNP nomination aspirants, including former reserved-seat MP and BNP assistant international affairs secretary Barrister Rumeen Farhana. Despite the party’s decision to concede the seat to its ally, Rumeen Farhana and two other BNP leaders, SN Tarun Dey and Akhtar Hossain, have declared they will run as independent candidates.
Speaking at a prayer session seeking the recovery of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and views-exchange meeting in Sarail on 20 December, Rumeen Farhana said she would contest the election from Sarail-Ashuganj regardless of party symbol, adding that she would proceed with the support of local leaders and voters.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, her supporters expressed disappointment, claiming she had not been properly recognised by the party despite her longstanding grassroots engagement.
Although Maulana Junayed Al Habib will contest the election with his party symbol, the date palm tree, BNP candidates have historically won the Brahmanbaria-2 seat in all six previous elections.
SN Tarun Dey said he decided to contest independently in the interest of local development after working across Sarail and Ashuganj for the past 17 years.
Rumeen Farhana has been actively campaigning in the constituency for an extended period, regularly visiting the area almost every week to engage in grassroots outreach and participate in various social programmes. Supporters of Rumeen Farhana claim she appreciates strong popularity at the field among party activists, general voters and women voters due to her regular presence in the constituency.
Former senior joint general secretary of Ashuganj Upazila BNP, Md Nasir Munshi, praised Rumeen Farhana as a widely popular leader across the country and expressed confidence in her victory, saying, “For the sake of local development, we will support Rumeen Farhana and hope, she will win by a large margin.”
Barrister Rumeen Farhana has announced she will contest the Brahmanbaria-2 seat as an independent candidate, with her supporters scheduled to collect her nomination papers on Wednesday. Two other BNP leaders, SN Tarun Dey and Akhtar Hossain, have also declared independent candidacies.
Local BNP leaders, however, have voiced concern that multiple independent candidacies could split votes and weaken the alliance’s prospects. Sarail Upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Md Noor Alam said winning with the ‘Date palm tree’ symbol could become difficult if BNP votes are divided. “We will consult with party leaders and then decide whom to support,” he said.
Russel Biplob, senior joint convener of the Ashuganj Upazila Swechasebak Dal and a supporter of Barrister Rumeen Farhana, expressed disappointment at the party’s decision. “We had hoped BNP would nominate Rumeen Farhana to promote local development. Despite our disappointment, we will back her independent candidacy for the constituency’s benefit,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nuruzzaman Laskar Tapu, general secretary of Sarail Upazila BNP, emphasised adherence to party decisions. “We will act according to party directives and will not support candidates outside the party line. We have been unable to vote for a long time, and it is our moral duty to implement the party’s decision,” he stated.
Meanwhile, other parties have also nominated candidates for the seat. Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated district Ameer Alhaj Md Mobarak Hossain, the National Democratic Front has nominated former Jatiya Party MP Advocate Md Ziaul Haque Mridha, and the NCP has nominated its central joint convener Maulana Ashraf Mahadi.
