Rumeen Farhana, contesting the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency as an independent candidate after her expulsion from the BNP, on Friday said she bears no resentment toward the party for not nominating her.
Her nomination paper was declared valid following scrutiny conducted on Friday afternoon by Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharmin Akter Jahan.
All 11 candidates who submitted nomination papers for the Brahmanbaria-2 seat were found eligible after the verification process.
Speaking to journalists after the scrutiny, Rumeen Farhana said she accepted the party’s decision without bitterness. Recalling her time in the BNP, she said that during the party’s difficult period, party chairperson Khaleda Zia entrusted her with responsibilities that often exceeded her age and political experience, and she tried her best to carry them out with sincerity.
Referring to her parliamentary role, she noted that she joined the National Parliament in 2019 following the 2018 general election and remained vocal on national issues.
She said she resigned immediately when the party asked her to step down in December 2022. “If the party now believes in new leadership, I welcome it. If it feels my services are no longer required, that is acceptable. I will continue my political activities,” she said.
Rumeen Farhana also raised concerns over reports that some of her supporters were being threatened with legal action. She said she had instructed them to inform her of any such incidents, adding that she would notify the administration and take immediate steps if any development affected the electoral process or the safety of her supporters and activists.
BNP earlier expelled Rumeen Farhana for collecting a nomination form as an independent candidate in defiance of party instructions regarding the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency.
On December 23, the BNP announced that it would not nominate any party candidate for the Brahmanbaria-2 seat—comprising Sarail and Ashuganj upazilas and parts of Bijoynagar upazila—leaving the constituency to its alliance partner Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh vice-president Maulana Junayed Al Habib.
The party also warned that strict disciplinary action would be taken against any leader or activist violating the decision.
Despite the directive, Rumeen Farhana collected nomination papers on 24 December to contest the constituency as an independent candidate in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Subsequently, the BNP expelled Rumeen Farhana along with eight other party leaders for carrying out organisational activities in defiance of party decisions, party sources said.
