The election train for the upcoming parliamentary election has begun for BNP and all political parties in the country. Although the nomination paper verification and scrutiny process is over, the appeal process for candidates whose candidacy was cancelled or suspended against the returning officer’s decision is now ongoing.
After the appeal process ends, political party leaders will start campaigning from the day of nomination withdrawal. BNP is preparing to take to the field centring this day of nomination withdrawal.
Meanwhile, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has been holding meetings every day with senior party leaders regarding the election, with the party’s mourning programme regarding the death of Chairperson Khaleda Zia ending today.
Tarique Rahman is set to formally start campaigning in favour of the sheaf of paddy on 22 January in Sylhet, with a visit to the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R).
Meanwhile, before starting the election campaign, he will visit his ancestral district, Bogura, on 11 January. Tarique will be contesting in the upcoming election from Bogura-6 constituency.
Although not part of his campaign tour, it will be his first trip outside Dhaka since his return from exile. He will be setting foot in Bogura after a long gap of 19 years, resulting in a festive atmosphere among BNP leaders, activists, and supporters surrounding his visit.
After one night in Bogura, Tarique has plans to go to Rangpur via Dinajpur and Thakurgaon. However, even before his Bogura visit, Tarique Rahman is expected to officially receive the position of Chairman of the party.
In this regard, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said, “Tarique Rahman is becoming the party’s chairman soon. Election campaigning will begin under his leadership.”
Since the announcement of the election schedule by the EC, there have been many speculations about whether the election will be held on time. Currently, the BNP high command believes there is no uncertainty regarding the matter.
However, some BNP leaders continue to believe that a group is conspiring against the upcoming election.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told TIMES of Bangladesh, “The dark clouds that were over the election have already cleared. We hope the election will be held on time. We are in mourning due to the death of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia. But we want to turn this grief into strength.”
Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on 25 December last year. In less than a week, his mother and party Chairperson Khaleda Zia passed away on 30 December while undergoing treatment in Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital.
Nomination papers had been submitted on behalf of Khaleda Zia for Dinajpur-3, Bogura-7, and Feni-1 constituencies. Due to her death, BNP has nominated alternative candidates for these three constituencies. Tarique Rahman himself will be contesting in the election from Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17.
Meanwhile, allied party leaders have demanded the withdrawal of BNP candidates running as independents in constituencies allotted for alliance candidates. In this regard, Tarique Rahman has emphasised that they are working on the matter to ensure that these independent candidates do not contest against alliance parties.
Meanwhile, with the election ahead, party Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan has been announced as the convener of BNP’s election steering committee and party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the member secretary, along with the announcement of a 41-member committee last Thursday.
The first meeting of this committee was held on Sunday at the party’s election office in Gulshan. After the meeting, Nazrul Islam Khan said that discussions were held on how leaders and activists will work during the election days, how candidates can be assisted, how to ensure a fair, free, and impartial process, and what instructions must be followed during election campaigning.
Addressing the party’s senior leaders, Tarique Rahman said, “BNP is now focused on the election. There is no time to look back. Keeping the election in view, everyone in the party must be united. Nothing should be done that deteriorates the country’s law and order. Every leader and activist must remain alert and cautious everywhere and be present in the election field. There must be no discord, division, or infighting within the party. Everyone must work together in unity.”
He added, “For the greater interest of the country and the people, the party’s decision must be followed in the end. Remember, the party is bigger than the individual. The country is bigger than the party.”
