Rashed Khan has formally joined BNP, marking a significant political development ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.
He joined the party at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday in the presence of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed.
Party leaders said Rashed Khan’s inclusion comes at a critical time as BNP steps up preparations for the national election and strengthens its alliance-based electoral strategy.
Earlier, Rashed Khan transferred his voter registration to the Jhenaidah-4 constituency, making him eligible to contest and cast his vote from the seat. He submitted an application to the Senior Secretary of the Election Commission, which was later approved.
Confirming the development, Rashed Khan told media that the approval establishes him as a permanent voter of Jhenaidah-4, comprising Jhenaidah Sadar and Kaliganj upazilas.
The move follows BNP’s seat-sharing arrangement with allied parties, under which the Jhenaidah-4 seat has been allotted to the Gono Odhikar Parishad.
On 24 December, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced candidates from allied parties for 10 constituencies at a press conference.
Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur also confirmed the decision in a Facebook post, stating that Rashed Khan would contest the election from Jhenaidah-4 using BNP’s electoral symbol, the “Sheaf of Paddy.” He added that Nur himself would contest from the Patuakhali-3 constituency under the Gono Odhikar Parishad’s symbol, the “Truck.”
As part of the political realignment, Rashed Khan has submitted a resignation letter, stepping down from his position as General Secretary of the Gono Odhikar Parishad to focus on the election.
