BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has begun talks with rebel candidates in a bid to persuade them to withdraw their nomination papers ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary election.
The move is aimed at ensuring the victory of BNP-nominated candidates contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol, as well as candidates fielded by the party’s allies.
Party sources say Tarique has been contacting rebel candidates by phone and has also asked several of them to attend meetings at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office in Dhaka. During the discussions, they are being urged to withdraw from the race.
Some candidates have assured the BNP leadership that they will step aside, party insiders say. Others, however, are yet to make a final decision on whether they will withdraw from the election.
The party leadership has repeatedly instructed rebel candidates to pull out before 20 January, the final day for nomination withdrawal. Senior party figures believe that if the rebels remain in the race, it could undermine the electoral prospects of BNP and its allied parties in those constituencies.
The scale of the challenge became clear on 29 December 2025, the final day for submitting nomination papers, when more than a hundred BNP leaders filed nominations as rebel candidates in seats where the party had already nominated official candidates and agreed seat-sharing arrangements with allies.
Since then, at least 10 leaders have been expelled from the party for defying its decisions by contesting as rebels. Those expelled are now preparing to run as independent candidates, further complicating BNP’s efforts to manage the election campaign.
Meanwhile, candidates from allied parties have met BNP chairman Tarique Rahman at his Gulshan office and warned that they would not contest the election if rebel candidates fail to withdraw from the race.
Those who held talks with Tarique include Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Ganosamhati Andolan Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders Nurul Haque Nur and Rashed Khan, as well as leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.
According to party sources, the allied leaders said that in constituencies allocated to them under seat-sharing arrangements, BNP leaders should not be allowed to contest the election under any banner.
BNP has reached seat-sharing agreements with its allies in 17 constituencies for the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for 12 February. However, allied party candidates are set to contest using their own party symbols due to changes introduced under the amended Representation of the People Order.
Sources said that after allied candidates formally raised the issue of independent contenders remaining in the race, the BNP high command became more active. Since then, the party has intensified efforts through various channels to persuade rebel candidates to withdraw.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party expects the situation to be resolved before 20 January, adding that strict organisational action would be taken against anyone who continues to contest the election in defiance of party decisions.
Several independent candidates have already announced their withdrawal following talks with the BNP leadership.
Syed AK Ekramuzzaman, an independent candidate in the Brahmanbaria-1 constituency, said he would withdraw after meeting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman. Ekramuzzaman, who had earlier been expelled from the party, had been contesting the seat as an independent.
In Jhenaidah-4, independent candidate Murshida Khatun submitted a written application to the district returning officer seeking to withdraw her nomination, election officials confirmed.
Tarique Rahman also held talks with former BNP lawmaker Abdul Khalek, who had been expelled from the party. Following the meeting, Khalek announced that he would step aside from the election.
In Narayanganj-2, BNP has nominated Dhaka divisional joint organising secretary Nazrul Islam Azad as its candidate. His main challenger is Ataur Rahman Khan Angur, a former BNP lawmaker now contesting as an independent.
Party sources say Angur has been asked to attend a meeting at the Gulshan office and instructed to withdraw in the party’s interest.
In Madaripur-3, independent candidate Asaduzzaman Palash, a former assistant general secretary of the Jubo Dal central committee, has also said he will withdraw from the race, according to BNP sources.
BNP has allocated the Brahmanbaria-2 seat to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam under a seat-sharing arrangement. However, BNP international affairs assistant secretary Rumeen Farhana was expelled from the party after announcing she would contest the constituency as an independent. Despite the expulsion, she has said she will remain in the race.
